ah, wendy, how i love thee...

my friend wendy, wonderful wendy, posted a couple recipes on facebook tonight. and um, yeah. YUM!!!! (at least, i'm assuming so... they look good, though i haven't tried them... yet.) and they looked so delicious, i thought i would share them here. :)

Taco Bake
1lb lean ground beef
1 small onion
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 pkg hot taco seasoning mix OR 2 tsp chili powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
3 oz (approx) light cream cheese
tomato
avocado
lettuce
tortillas for scooping

brown the ground beef and onion, drain well, then on medium heat add in the salsa, cream cheese, mayo and spices.


in and ungreased baking dish (like a round deep one) layer meat mix, some crushed tortillas and half the cheese, and then repeat.

Bake uncovered at 350 for about 25 minutes.

I topped with fresh tomato, avocado and lettuce and a dab of sour cream but clearly there are many possible options.

Scoop and eat with tortilla chips or scoop into hard taco shells or on a bed of lettuce. Enjoy!

*** to make your own tortillas - cut up a stack of corn or flour tortillas into 8, lay flat on baking sheet. Spray with cooking oil and lightly salt. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, watching carefully. They will crisp as they cool.

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:
12-18 large pasta shells, cooked
1 lb lean ground beef
3 tbsp taco seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cup salsa, divided
1 cup grated cheese, divided
750 ml tomato sauce
chili powder
green onion (garnish)

Directions:
1. brown ground beef. drain.
2. add seasoning, water, onion, 1/2 cup salsa, 1/4 cup cheese.
3. mix together remaining salsa, tomato sauce, cheese.
4. spread thin layer of sauce in bottom of 9x12 baking pan.
5. fill each shell with ground beef mixture and place in pan.
6. pour remaining sauce on top. sprinkle on the rest of the cheese on top and garnish with green onion.
7. bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 mins (or in my kitchen, "until it's done.")
8. if desired, sprinkle additional cheese on top after baking and return to oven for 5 mins longer or until cheese melts.

Verdict:
YUMMU!!! this was really, really good. my mom can't handle spice, so i didn't use much chili powder, and instead of tomato sauce, i used crushed tomatoes and 2 big garlic cloves. and it was lovely!