Shepherd's Pie

Normally, this dish is on the plain side, but we've spiced it up, just a bit

Shepherd's Pie

I will add a picture the next time I make it again.

You will need a square casserole dish to cook this in.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (15.5 oz) can sloppy joe sauce
• 4 servings of instant mashed potatoes*
• 8 ounces shredded cheese 
• 1 (14.5 oz) can vegetables**
  

* You can use homemade mashed potatoes, if you prefer

**We normally use green beans, but any will do

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (about 205 degrees C).  Cook potatoes according to directions.  Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Drain grease, if needed/desired.  Add the sloppy joe sauce and vegetables, stir together well.  In a square casserole dish, layer meat mixture and potatoes.  Top with cheese.  Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

This recipe can easily be doubled.  Just use a 9x13 casserole dish instead.  Enjoy!

Goulash

This is a favorite recipe from my childhood, with a few changes.

Goulash

I will add a picture the next time I make it again.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 can onions, optional^
• 1 (1lb) package of pasta*
• 1 can/jar of spaghetti sauce**

* I usually use macaroni noodles, but I've also used shells.  Just use whatever you want.
**Growing up, tomato sauce and/or paste was used.  I tried spaghetti sauce once when I didn't have tomato sauce and found that it tastes much better.
^Fresh onions would probably taste better.  Add them whenever you would like for whatever taste you want.

Directions

Prepare pasta according to package directions or however you would normally prepare pasta.  Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat, using any seasoning you might want.  In a separate pan, combine corn, kidney beans, onions, and spaghetti sauce.  Cook until warm.  When everything is cooked, drain pasta and meat.  Mix everything together.  I usually use a soup pot, similar to this.  

You will *most likely* have left overs.  These will reheat very well and make a good lunch for work  

Taco Pie

This is a fairly new recipe to us, however, it turned out to be VERY successful.  When you have children, you tend to stick with the "tried and true".  When we decided to try this, we weren't sure if it would be liked.  Turns out it's loved and has even been asked for again.  If you want to try it directly from the source, you can find it here.  I will also type it all out here, because I like it that much.  

Taco Pie

I will add a picture the next time I make it again.

You will need a square casserole dish to cook this in.

Ingredients

• 1 (8oz) package refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (1oz) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (16oz) container sour cream*
• 8 ounces shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
• 1 (14oz) bag tortilla chips, crushed

* The directions call for the sour cream to be layered in the mix, but we leave it out.  The kids don't really like it, so the adults add it later.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Lay crescent dough flat on the bottom of the square cake pain and bake according to package directions.  Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Drain grease, if needed/desired.  Add the taco seasoning and stir together well.  When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, and then top off with the crushed tortilla chips.  Return to the oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

This recipe makes 4 servings.  To feed our family of 5-7, we add a side of Spanish rice.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

I will add a picture the next time I make it again.

**Do Not Preheat Oven**

You will need a 9x13 casserole dish to cook this in.

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken Breasts, cooked and cubed^
• 6 slices of bread, cubed*
• 2 eggs, large
• 1 10.5 oz can of chicken noodle soup, undiluted
• 2 10.75 oz cans of cream of whatever soup, undiluted**
• 1 stick of butter/margarine, melted
• 1 stack of Ritz crackers, crushed

* Day old is best, but any will do

** The original recipe calls for cream of mushroom.  Since most of the people in my house despise mushrooms, I have used cream of celery, cream of onion, and cream of chicken, and not always 2 cans of the same.

^ The woman I learned this recipe from would cook her chicken, with no seasoning, in the microwave and then cube it.  I prefer to cube it, and cook it on the stove with a bit of rosemary.  You can cook it however you want.

Directions

Mix your eggs and soups together.  Mix your butter and crackers together.
In your casserole dish, spread out your chicken and put your bread pieces on top of that.  Next, pour the egg/soup mixture over the top.  Try to make sure you cover all the bread at least.  Top with butter soaked Ritz crackers.

Bake at 450 degrees F (232 degrees C) for 1 hour.  Enjoy!