Taco Soup

And, another recipe from my college days. Simple and filling.

Taco Soup

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped and sauteed
1 lb hamburger, browned and drained in large sauce pan
2 cans kidney beans, with juice
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning
1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

Directions:
1. Saute onion and brown hamburger
2. Mix all ingredients in large saucepan
3. Cook until heated through
4. Serve with your choice of shredded cheese, corn, tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, chives.

Variations: Serve with your choice of toppings for variety.

Notes: I love taco soup. So, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for me.

Servings: 6

Estimated Cost: $6.00

Source: Recipe from college friends

Nutrition Facts: Nutrition Facts:  728 calories, 10.1g total fat, 3.9g saturated fat, 77mg cholesterol, 579mg sodium, 102g total carbohydrate, 10.2g sugar, Vitamin A 30%, Vitamin C 52%, Calcium 18%, Iron 140%

Shepherd's Pie

Start to Finish: 6 hours

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) tomato soup, condensed
1 can (15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 ounces) French cut green beans, drained
2 cups instant mashed potatoes, prepared
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions:
1) In a separate bowl, combine beef, tomato soup, corn, beans, and basil. Pour mixture in the bottom of a greased 3-1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker. Spread mashed potatoes on top. Cover and cook on low heat 5-6 hours. The last hour of cooking, sprinkle cheese on top of potatoes.

Servings: 4-6

Notes: Pretty good. Shepherd Pie is something I enjoy, and my husband will eat even though he does not like green beans that much. The basil was a good addition and this was easy in the slow cooker.

Estimated Price: $6.50

Source: 101 Things To Do With a Slow Cooker
Nutrition Facts per serving: 382 cal., 22.1 g total fat (12 g sat. fat), 128 mg chol., 691 mg sodium, 46 g carbo., 7.1 g fiber, 45.6 g pro. Daily Values: 29% vit. A, 71% vit. C, 38% calcium, 31% iron

Crockpot Tamale Pie

Start to Finish: 4-5 hours

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1-1/2 cup of milk
1 pkg chili seasoning mix
1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes
1 (12 to 16) ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
1 small can sliced ripe olives, drained
1-1/2 cups grated Mexican blend of cheeses
3/4 cup yellow corn meal
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp seasoned salt

Directions:
In a skillet, brown beef until crumbly; drain well. In a large bowl mix corn meal, milk, egg. Add drained ground beef, dry chili seasoning mix, seasoned salt, and tomatoes, corn, and olives. Pour into slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours. Sprinkle cheese over top. Cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Servings: 6

Notes: This was delicious. The girls really liked it and we ate it as a meal, but later used it as a snack dip as well.

Variations: Like I said, you can use it as a dip. Just get some tortilla chips and enjoy!

Estimated Price: $9.00

Nutrition Facts per serving: 346 cal., 16 g total fat (8 g sat. fat), 140 mg chol., 1035 mg sodium, 25 g carbo., 3 g fiber, 35 g pro. Daily Values: 24% vit. A, 15% vit. C, 29% calcium, 27% iron

Hamburger Pie

Start to Finish: 60 minutes

Ingredients:
Homemade Mashed Potatoes or one 24-ounce package refrigerated mashed potatoes
1-1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash black pepper
2-1/2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup shredded American cheese

Directions:
1) Prepare mashed potatoes; set aside. In a large skillet cook meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Add salt and pepper. Stir in thawed beans and soup. Pour into a greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish or casserole.
2) Spoon mashed potatoes in mounds on beef mixture. Sprinkle cheese over potatoes. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and cheese begins to brown.

Servings: 6

Notes: Mmmm, yummy. This is really the only way that my husband will eat green beans and not complain the entire time. Mashed potatoes and meat are always great together.

Variations: Really, the green beans could be taken out, but where is the fun in that?

Estimated Price: $8.50

Cookbook: Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook
Nutrition Facts per serving: 376 cal., 16 g total fat (8 g sat. fat), 80 mg chol., 796 mg sodium, 34 g carbo., 4 g fiber, 23 g pro. Daily Values: 14% vit. A, 43% vit. C, 10% calcium, 18% iron

Cheesy Swiss Pie

Start to Finish: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
1/3 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 to 3 T. green peppers, chopped
9-inch pie crust, unbaked
6 slices Swiss cheese, divided
salt and pepper to taste
10- oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, cooked
1 egg, beaten

Directions:
Brown ground beef, onion, and green peppers. Drain and spread into the bottom of pie crust. Arrange half of cheese over meat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Mix spinach with egg, spoon evenly over cheese. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees F and bake an additional 20 minutes. During the last 5 minutes, place the remaining cheese on top and return to oven to melt.

Servings: 6-8

Notes: Extremely good. We made two pies with it, but really it should just be one. The ground beef/ spinach combination is tasty.

Variations: We have made it with Muenster cheese before- the Swiss is still better.

Estimated Price: $6.50

Cookbook: Gooseberry Patch Hometown Favorites
Nutrition Facts per serving: 403 cal., 24 g total fat (10 g sat. fat), 110 mg chol., 377 mg sodium, 23 g carbo., 26 g pro. Daily Values: 198% vit. A, 30% vit. C, 53% calcium, 31% iron

Barbecue Meat Loaf

Start to Finish: 60 minutes

Ingredients:
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce
1 pound lean ground beef
2 pieces string cheese (about 2 ounces)

Directions:
1) In a medium bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, and 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce; add beef and mix well.
2) In a 2-quart rectangular baking dish pat about 2/3 of the meat mixture into a 7x3-inch rectangle. Place the cheese lengthwise in the center of the rectangle. Pat remaining meat mixture on top, sealing it around the cheese. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until center of loaf is 160 degrees F. Spoon remaining barbecue sauce over loaf; bake for 5 minutes more.

Servings: 4

Notes: This really only feeds two adults and a child though. It is very moist when it is done and the melted cheese inside is delicious. Leftovers are good as well.

Estimated Price: $6.00

Cookbook: Better Homes and Gardens 500 Five Ingredient Recipes
Nutrition Facts per serving: 394 cal., 25 g total fat (10 g sat. fat), 144 mg chol., 735 mg sodium, 13 g carbo., 0 g fiber, 26 g pro. Daily Values: 6% vit. A, 12% calcium, 14% iron

Taco Pizza

Start to Finish: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

8 ounces lean ground beef and/ or bulk pork sausage

1 medium green sweet pepper, chopped (3/4 cup)

1 11-1/2 ounce package refrigerated corn bread twists

1/2 cup purchased salsa

3 cups shredded taco cheese (12 ounces)

Directions:

1) In a skillet cook beef and pepper over medium heat until meat is brown; drain. Set aside.

2) Unroll corn bread dough (do not separate into strips). Press dough into the bottom and up the edges of a greased 12-inch pizza pan. Spread salsa on top of dough. Sprinkle with meat mixture and cheese. Bake in a 400 degree F oven about 20 minutes or until bottom of crust is golden brown. Cut into wedges.

Servings: 6-8

Notes: This was really good. I might use corn bread for pizza dough more often! There are so many options with pizza, and Katie devoured this one, as did Aubrey!

Variations: I could not find refrigerated corn bread at the store. So, I bought two .49 boxed corn bread mixes. I cooked the corn bread for 12-15 minutes in a 9x13 pan, added the toppings, and then cooked for five more minutes, checking to make sure the corn bread was golden brown. We also were out of salsa so we used spaghetti sauce, and it was really good. You can use whatever toppings you want, but I liked the combination of ground beef and green peppers.

Estimated Price: $7.00

Cookbook: Better Homes and Gardens 500-Five Ingredient Recipes

Nutrition Facts per serving: 465 cal., 30 g total fat (15 g sat. fat), 73 mg chol., 870 mg sodium, 27 g carbo., 1 g fiber, 22 g pro. Daily Values: 16% vit. A, 26% vit. C, 31% calcium, 13% iron