Cowboy Casserole

Another one from Pinterest!!! These are recipes I have tries and the family has liked!!! This one they loved!! This comes from The Cutting Edge of Ordinary along with the pictures!! She has tons of great things I want to try!!! Like the Dill Pickle Dip found here..................

 http://www.thecuttingedgeofordinary.blogspot.com/2012/03/dill-pickle-dip.html

 Anyway back to the casserole which she says "looks like dog food - tastes delicious"!!!

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped

{I used minced in the jar}
1 can (15.25oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 bag (30 oz) frozen tater tots (I used Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns)

Let the Crispy Crowns sit on the counter to defrost for an hour or so.

In a large skillet cook the onion until tender and translucent. Add the chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the beef and cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the mixture and place into a large bowl and set aside.

In a small bowl combine the soup, milk and sour cream. Whisk until smooth. Add to hamburger mixture and stir to combine. Add corn and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Gently mix to combine.

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the Crispy Crowns on the bottom, pour the hamburger mixture over the top and then layer with the other half of the Crispy Crowns. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.

Serve with some jello or green salad and some rolls and it's a yummy dinner!! The leftovers are even better!!

Meatball Sliders

Doesn't happen too often but every once in a while the kids slip something in the grocery cart and I don't catch it!! Usually a candy of some kind!! Well we were in Sam's Club around Superbowl time and Hannah slipped these in the cart...

A huge bag of meatballs! She had a sample of one and decided we needed a whole bag!! {Seriously don't know how I missed that one}! So tonight we had Meatball Sliders! They were pretty yummy!! I didn't have an exact recipe {not really that hard though} but followed this from The Girl Who Ate Everything. The picture is hers too!

24 frozen meatballs, thawed

2 cups marinara sauce
8 ounces sliced provolone or mozzarella {used swiss}
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
24 dinner rolls or 8 hot dog buns cut in thirds {I use the King's Hawaiian Rolls, perfect size}


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9X13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Warm the meatballs in the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Separate the dinner rolls or hot dog buns and place one saucy meatball on the bottom roll. Top with mozzarella or provolone. Place the top roll on and push down slightly. Place meatball slider in the pan and continue to assemble the rest of the sliders. Microwave butter in a bowl in the microwave until melted. Add garlic powder and Italian seasonings and mix well. Brush tops of buns with melted butter mixture.
Toast in oven for 8-10 minutes or until toasted. Served with french fries and a green salad!! On the menu for tomorow.....Swedish Meatballs!!

Bow-Tie Lasagna

This was very good!! So easy to whip up!! It comes from Chef Mommy who got it off Tasty Kitchen. The picture is hers also!!







1 pound ground beef
3 cups bow-tie noodles
3 cups spaghetti sauce ~ I used Prego
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cups mozzarella cheese
½ cups sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
Directions:
Cook ground beef in a non-stick pan. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. After noodles are cooked, drain and drizzle with olive oil. Mix in your spaghetti sauce. Add the ground beef and seasoning. In a small bowl combine the sour cream, mozzarella and Parmesan. Add to the pasta mixture and fold together and allow it all to combine and melt together, over low heat, for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and additional Parmesan.
I added a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese when adding the other cheeses because that's what I always put in my lasagnas and because the girls love it! Served with green salad, green beans, and french bread! It was a winner!! And I didn't double it and had enough for John's lunch!!

Salisbury Steak

This was really good and so easy!! I forgot to take a picture cause I always like to include one with the recipes. I will take one next time cause I will definately make this again! This recipe comes from Recipes For Moms. As always I doubled this to have some for John's lunch! I love that he loves leftovers and doesn't complain!

1 lb. ground beef
1/2. saltine crackers ~ crushed
1 egg ~ beaten
1/4 c. onion ~ chopped
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 c. water
1 12 oz. jar turkey gravy ~ I used the beef flavor

Combine beef, crushed crackers, beaten egg, onions, salt and pepper into a large mixing bowl. Mix well and form into 4-6 patties depending on size the want them. Set aside. Combine water and gravy in a large skillet over medium heat. Add patties. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, turning once halfway through. Whip up some mashed potatoes,pour over some of the yummy gravy, have some green beans and you have yourself another hearty meal!!

Hamburger Gravy

Do you remember having this in grade school? I didn't till I saw it on a blog {can't remember where} and then it brought back a flood of school day cafeteria memories!! This was one of my favorites!

1 lb. hamburger
1 sm. onion, chopped ~ I just used about a tablespoon of minced
1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 c. water
1 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet browning sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed potatoes ~ I just whipped up some instant

Brown hamburger and onion. Stir in flour. Add water and cook until thickness you prefer. Add Kitchen Bouquet to color, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve on mashed potatoes.
As always I doubled this and my potatoes! The kids loved it, except Justin, but what's new!! Served along with corn, and hot rolls!! It's a keeper!! Went so fast I didn't even get a picture!!

Tater-Tot Beef Casserole

This recipe comes from CopyKat Recipes. They have a bunch of copycat recipes they post from different restaurants and such. This one I think is just a family favorite budget stretcher! It was very easy to throw together and the family loved it! The following recipe is exactly as it comes from their site. I added a few notes at the end!

1 lb. Ground Beef
3 T. Minced Onion
2 T. Italian Seasoning
1 t. Garlic Powder
1 t. Onion Powder
2 C. Shredded Hash Browns, thawed
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
½ C. Milk
1½ C. shredded cheese (Velveeta tastes best)
Frozen Tater Tots
Brown the ground beef with the onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder; drain fat. In a large mixing bowl, combine hash browns, soup, milk, and cheese, stirring well. Add ground beef. Place in a greased 2 QT casserole dish. Place tater tots in a single layer over entire casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until thoroughly heated and tater tots are crispy.
I served this with a dollop of sour cream on top and Cookie Salad {go to salads on the side bar for recipe}. As always I doubled it and used a 9x13 casserole dish. I also didn't get what they meant by "Velveeta works best" so I used 1½ C. shredded cheddar and 16 oz. of Velveeta processed cheese, cubed it, and added it to the mixture of hamburger and everything else!! It melted and was very cheesy! It was a very filling meal and will make great leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Hal enjoyed every bite!!

Taco Salad

This is just your ordinary taco salad, but "Real Mom Kitchen" made her own "taco bowls" and I thought they were so quick and easy! And the kids, even the boys loved them! And it kicked up the ordinary taco salad with crushed corn chips on the bottom!

4 flour tortillas (8-inch)
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkt. (1¼ oz.) taco seasoning mix
4 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
1 large tomato, chopped
¼ cup ranch dressing

HEAT oven to 425°F.
CRUMPLE 4 large sheets of foil to make 4 (3-inch) balls; place on baking sheet. Place 1 tortilla over each ball; spray with cooking spray. Bake 6 to 8 min. or until tortillas are golden brown. (Tortillas will drape over balls as they bake.)
MEANWHILE, cook meat with taco seasoning mix as directed on package.
FILL shells with lettuce, meat mixture, cheese and tomatoes just before serving. Drizzle with dressing.
I made 8 taco bowls and used 2 pounds of ground beef. I also added olives, taco sauce, sour cream, and of course ya can't forget the ketchup. The kids ate their "bowls" after the filling was all gone just like chips along with some salsa! Serve along side the best fruit dip ever with cantaloupe and strawberries! Another winner at the Russell homestead!!

White Castle-like Sliders

These were a HUGE hit! So simple to make! I don't think I'll make hamburgers the old way after makin' these! The girls loved that they were just their size and the boys loved they were like two-bite size! John really enjoyed them and gave me the thumbs up!! The recipe and pictures come from the Big Red Kitchen! Go visit her blog to see more step by step pictures. She has tons of great recipes!!

½ c. dried onion flakes
2 lbs. ground round ~ use at least an 80/20 so the juices can rehydrate the onions
½ t. season salt {I also added a little steak seasoning}
6 slices cheddar cheese
24 small party rolls {I used King's Hawaiian usually found by the deli}
24 dill pickle slices

Evenly spread onion on the bottom of a 9x13 glass baking dish. Gently press hamburger evenly and gently over onions. Sprinkle with season salt. Bake in a 400º oven for 25 minutes ~ the beef will shrink. Using a paper towel, blot excess grease from top of patties, top with cheddar cheese {I used pepper jack on John's} and return to oven for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes then cut into 24 patties. Cut rolls and top with patty and a pickle slice. Serve immediately! I served these with a side of ketchup for dipping and fries! Aren't these the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Cheeseburger Soup

1/2 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. celery
3/4 c. carrots
3/4 c. onions
1 t. basil
1 t. parsley
4 T. butter (divided)
4 c. potatoes
1 1/2 c. milk
4 oz. Velveeta Cheese
1/2 t. salt
3/4 t. pepper
1/4 c. flour
1 c. chicken broth
Brown hamburger, drain and set aside. In same pot saute carrots, onions, celery, basil, parsley, and 1 T. butter. Cook until veggies are tender ~ about 10 min. Then add potatoes, chicken broth, and hamburger. Boil for 10 - 15 min ~ until potatoes are soft.
In a small pan melt remaining butter and add flour stir until bubbly then add to soup. Cook for 10 min. Add Velveeta Cheese, milk, salt, and pepper. Cook until cheese is melted.
Garnish with green onion, sour cream, and chopped bacon. As always doubled this and had plenty for leftovers. Served it with some jello and homemade bread.

Twice Baked Potatoes...

For dinner tonight we had a family favorite...barbecue beef ribs that i just put in the crockpot with some barbeque sauce for 6 hours, twice baked potatoes, green beans, and biscuits. For twice baked potatoes I just bake my potatoes for a few hours. Cut in half and scoop out filling into a bowl...I use a melon baller and it works great. I also put my cream cheese and butter in the bowl first then I scoop out the potato filling and the warm filling starts to soften the cream cheese and butter.
Then I add:
1 brick cream cheese
1 cube butter
1 package bacon pieces
2 cups cheese
1 c. sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
I also add sliced green onions to Johns
Mix with a hand mixer and refill potato skins. Top with additional cheese and broil till cheese is melted.

Hot Beef Cheddar Subs

This recipe was yummy and super easy! I got the recipe from a little bonus book in the Taste of Home magazine. I was gonna take a picture but my sister had my card for my camera...they are like cheesy sloppy joes in a hollowed~out crusty roll.

4 submarine sandwiches ~ I found some cute hard crust rolls {8} and used them
1 pound of ground beef
1 medium green pepper, diced {I left this due to the kids HUGE dislike of them}
1 small onion {I used minced onion ~ less detectable ~ again the kids}
1 can (10¾) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
¼ t. Worcestershire sauce
4 slices American cheese

Cut a thin slice off the top of each bun; set aside. Carefully hollow out bottoms, leaving a ½ in. shell. Set aside ½ cup of bread.
In a large skillet, cook beef, green pepper, and onion until cooked, Drain. Stir in soup, Worcestershire sauce, and reserved bread.
Spoon into buns; top with cheese slice. Replace tops. Place on a cookie sheet and bake, uncovered at 350º for a few minutes, 5-7, or until cheese is melted.
I served it along with some fries and it was pretty good! And as always I doubled it so we would have some leftovers and some for John's lunch!

Taco's In A Bag...

This is a super easy, fast, and kids really enjoy this! Don't have a picture but I'll try to get one next time we have this!

You'll need...
small, individual bags of chips for each person ~ Frito's and Doritos work best
hamburger ~ cooked and drained {could also season with taco seasoning}
Assorted toppings...
sour cream
cheese
olives
tomatoes
lettuce
ketchup
and any other topping that you might enjoy on tacos

How to enjoy... take your bag of chips and crush up a little, open at top and add hamburger, cheese, and any topping you want and eat right out of bag!
These are especially great camping!

Beef Noodle Bowls

This recipe comes from the Kraft website. And even though the kids aren't huge broccoli fans they do eat the broccoli in this dish.

1/2 lb. linguine, uncooked
3 cups broccoli florets ~ I use the steam bags of broccoli in the micro and add those at the very end
3 carrots, peeled, sliced ~ I used the pre-made mini baby carrots
2 tsp. oil
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
1/4 cup KRAFT Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing
1 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce
How to make it...
COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding vegetables to the boiling water for the last 2 min. ~ I add the carrots the whole time the pasta is cooking
MEANWHILE, heat oil in large nonstick skillet. Add meat; cook until browned on all sides, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing and teriyaki sauce; cook 2 min. or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
DRAIN pasta mixture; place in large serving bowl. Add meat mixture; toss to coat.

I 4 x's the sauce mixture, so I used 1 whole cup of dressing and 4T. of Teriyaki sauce to make it a little more "saucy". Served with grape jello and french bread! Could also add ½ c. planters peanuts or pineapple tidbits would be good! Enjoy!!

Bacon Cheesburger Roll~ups

Recipe from the Kraft Foods website...

1 lb. lean ground beef
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, chopped
{I used the stuff already in the bag...not bacon bits though}
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 lb. (8 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 pkg. (13.8 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust
HEAT oven to 400°F.
Brown ground beef with bacon and onions in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat mixture to skillet. Add VELVEETA; cook until melted, stirring frequently. Cool 10 min.
UNROLL dough onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Press into 15x8-inch rectangle; top with meat mixture. Roll up, starting at one of the long sides. Rearrange if necessary so roll is seam-side down.
BAKE 20 to 25 min. or until golden brown.
Serve with a litle ketchup, mustard, and green salad or fruit and you have a great meal.

I accidentally grabbed "Mexican Blend" velveeta at the store and was a little worried about how it would go over with the family, but they really liked it. It's now a family favorite! Enjoy!

Ranch Pasta with Hamburger

I found this recipe over at "Home Sweet Home" ~ she has a lot of things I want to try! It was great and super fast! It is definitely a new family favorite. I served it with some yummy rolls.

1 pound of ground chuck
1/2 of a large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 box of pasta ~ I used those cute new "mini" pastas, the penne ones ~ Rotini, Bowties, or Gemelli would be good choices.
1 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
1 pouch dry ranch dressing mix

In a large pot, bring well salted water to a boil and drop your pasta. Cook according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large, deep sided skillet over medium heat, brown the meat, onions and garlic and add the S&P. In a medium bowl, combine the milk, sour cream and ranch mix until mixed. When the meat is browned, drain off grease if necessary. Drain the pasta when it is al dente. Combine the meat mixture, pasta and sauce in one of the pans that is large enough to hold it all.

Tin Foil Dinner Casserole

We love tin foil dinners but they're sometimes a pain to do...so I came up with this super easy casserole. This makes quite a bit, but we're a leftover lovin' family!! So just use your judgement depending on the size of your family.

You'll need...
1-2 lbs. hamburger
carrots ~ I just use the baby carrots and slice them thinly so they'll cook
onions ~ evenly and thinly sliced
potatoes ~ cubed into small chunks so they'll cook faster
couple of lg. cans Cream of Chicken Soup OR Cream of Mushroom Soup
seasonings

I do this a couple of different ways...
For John I...
1) brown hamburger
while the hamburger is browning...
2) I lightly grease a 9x13 glass casserole dish and layer with carrots, onions, potatoes, season with salt & pepper and some Cajun seasoning
3) spread 1 lg. can of Cream of Mushroom soup over veggies ~ I usually do two so its really creamy
4) drain hamburger and sprinkle over soup
5) cover with foil and bake @ 420º til veggies are fork tender ~ I usually leave it in for 30-40 minutes
6) stir and kinda mix everything together before serving.

For the kids...
I do the same as above except I leave out the carrots and onions and use Cream of Chicken Soup.
It taste just like tin foil dinner!! Serve with salad or jello and there ya go!!

Crockpot Lasagna

{picture coutesy of Adrienne's blog}
Another recipe from Adrienne at "Taste The Joy" . It is quick and easy and has become a favorite.
Brown 1 lb hamburger and chopped onion
Add: large jar spaghetti sauce {I used Prego} and ½ C water
Spray crock pot with no stick spray and layer:
Meat sauce
Dry broken lasagna noodles
1/3 carton cottage cheese (1 lb size)
shredded mozzarella cheese
Repeat layers until ingredients are gone. (I usually do about 4-5 layers)
Sprinkle cheese on top last ½ hour.
Cook for 3-4 hours on low.
Serve with salad and french bread and you have a great meal!!

Easy Pleasing Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground beef
1 pkg. (6oz.) Stovetop Stuffing mix for Pork
1 c. water
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ c. Kraft Original barbecue sauce

Preheat oven to 400º. Mix beef, stovetop mix, water, eggs, and ¼ c. of the barbecue sauce in a bowl. Divide and shape mixture into 4 oval loaves. Place on foiled covered cookie sheet. Top with remaining barbecue sauce.
Bake 30 minutes, until cooked through (160º).
Cut in to slices and serve.

Beef Stroganoff

I cook this in my crock pot and I get two meals out of this recipe. One night I serve it over noodles and the next night I serve it over baked potatoes.

1-2 lbs. hamburger or steak chunks
1 beef bouillon
1 chopped onion
1 lg. cream of mushroom soup
1 lg. cream of chicken soup
1 16oz. sour cream

Cook hamburger, onion, and bouillon till cooked. Drain if needed. Put in crock pot. Add soups. Simmer in crock pot on low till heated through. Stirring occasionally. Add sour cream 15-20 minutes before serving.

Easy Chili

2 lbs. hamburger
1 chopped onion
2-3 stalks of celery - chopped
1 lg. can tomato juice
1 lg. can pork and beans
1 lg. can chili beans
1 small can kidney beans
2-4 T. chili powder - depending on your taste.

Brown hamburger, onions, and celery. Drain hamburger if needed.
Add tomato juice, beans (drained), and chili powder.
Simmer at least 1 hour in crock pot.
Serve with corn bread and honey butter.