Stacked Taco

I got this idea from a recipe called Tortilla Pie...I like Stacked Taco better for my version.  This was pretty easy & better than I expected...in fact I almost didn't take a picture because I didn't have high expectations.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Here it is...

Stacked Taco

1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg Taco Seasoning + the water it calls for
about 2 C. Cheese
6 small or 3 large tortillas
1/2 C Mild Salsa
Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Brown & drain ground beef.  Add taco seasoning & water per package directions.  In a baking dish or pie pan put salsa on the bottom.  Layer tortilla, cheese & 1/2 taco meat.  Repeat with tortilla, cheese, taco meat.  Finish with one more layer of tortillas & cheese.  Put in oven for 10-12 minutes to heat through & melt cheese.  Enjoy with sour cream & any other taco toppings you like.

Chocolate Covered Popcorn

I love chocolate covered popcorn!  When we lived in Henderson I used to get it from a place called Nothing Bundt Cakes.  They sold it in small bags & it was expensive but, oh so good!  I have been wanting to find a recipe for this for a long time & I haven't come across anything.  I even had Chad ask his brother, Kevin a.k.a. International Chef Kevin, & he didn't have a recipe either.  He just said to try making it & see what happens.  Humm...I have no problem changing recipes since that is what I almost ALWAYS do anyway but it did take me awhile to attempt this one.  Honestly, I was worried that the hot, melted chocolate would wilt the popcorn & make it gross. 

Anyway, this Thanksgiving we were going to our friends house & I wanted to take something that we could snack on & I always have popcorn on hand so I figured 'what the heck!' & gave it a try.  It was EXACTLY...well almost exactly like the stuff I used to shovel out big $$$ for.  The only difference was that I didn't have colored chocolate to drizzle over the top & I learned that chocolate doesn't color well.  Next time it will be absolutely, perfectly, EXACTLY the way I used to get it!

Pop 1 C. unpopped corn & sort so you get out all of the unpopped kernals & small yucky pieces

Melt 1 pkg. (24 ounces) White Almond Bark in a double boiler (or use a smaller pan on top of a bigger one-it works the same)

add about 1 small spoon of shrtening to thin just a bit

Here is a picture of the Almond Bark package...this is the first time I have ever bought Almond Bark & I actually had it for another recipe that I haven't tried yet with oreos & candy canes...sounds good too.

Pour over popcorn & stir so that it all gets well coated.  Dump out onto cookie sheets that are lined with waxed paper. 

Melt a small amount of colored chocolate & drizzle over the top of coated popcorn.  ENJOY!!! 
Put any leftovers in a plastic bag to keep fresh.

Today is 3 days later & it is still delicious!

By the way...this is what I'm giving to all our neighbors this year for Christmas...yummy & so easy (but I won't tell them that!)

Dutch Baby

I got this recipe back from Emily (Travis' wife) back in 2000 when I  put together the 'Yours, Mine & Ours Family Cookbook' & we love it!  We would go through fazes with this one - the kids would ask for it everyday for breakfast & then we wouldn't have it for several weeks.  Now that they both go to school we definitely don't have it as often, but it is still a favorite.  By the way...I love everything that Emily makes.  She is an excellent cook/baker/canner.  I know when I use one of her recipes, I won't be disappointed.  Thanks Em!

Spray an 8X8 pan with cooking spray & add 2-3 T. butter.  Put the pan in the oven to melt the butter as it is preheating to 350.

In your blender add:
3/4 C. Milk
3/4 C. Flour
3 Eggs
Shake of Salt
1/2 T. Sugar

Mix well & pour into pan.  Cook for 20 minutes.  Dust with powdered sugar & eat with syrup.

Easy Flat Bread Tacos

Make taco meat with taco seasoning & all the toppings you like. 

Then make the flat bread:

1 tube large biscuts

Flatten out biscut into about a 6 inch circle & place in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Cook on each side for about 1 minute each or until nice & golden.

Take one piece of flat bread & put on some sour cream.  (I used 1 C sour cream & mixed it with 1/2 pkg. ranch salad dressing mix.) Then top with taco meat & all the toppings.  Yum!

Cinnamon & Sugar Popcorn

This is sooo easy & mmm good!

Pop 1/2 C. unpopped corn

Mix together:

3 rounded T. sugar

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 C. melted butter or margarine

Pour over popcorn & stir until well coated.  Enjoy!

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cookies~YUM!

Just the name sounds delicious! I LOVE these cookies! I started out with an average oatmeal cookie recipe and altered it (of course) & ended up with perfection! I really don't think I'll be making any more changes to this recipe. I really do love it that much! WOW!

So here it is...

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cookies~YUM!

2 sticks soft margarine

1 C. packed brown sugar

1/2 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 C. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 C. Oats

About 2 C. Chocolate Chips

3/4 C. Coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together margarine & both sugars. Add eggs - one at a time - mixing well. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon & salt. Then add to sugar mixture & mix well. Stir in oats, chocolate chips & coconut. YUM! Scoop onto cookie sheets & bake for 9-10 minutes. *Remember to rotate cookie sheets half way through.

ENJOY with a tall glass of milk!

Makes 38 cookies.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

It has been raining for the past several days so I thought soup sounded yummy. I always have the ingredients for this soup so this is what we had for dinner today. I got the original recipe from Anjalique (a friend from Henderson). I love friends that share their recipes!!! Here it is with my twist... Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 Chicken Breasts, cooked & chopped
4 Cans Chicken Broth
1 Can Corn, drained
1 Can of Kidney Beans
1 Can of Great Northern (white) beans
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1/2 C Salsa
1/2 Onion, sauteed or a small amount of dried onion
a few Garlic Cloves, minced - I usually forget this item...
Tortilla Chips
Shredded Monterrey Cheese
Sour Cream & Olives for garnish

Bring all ingredients to a boil & simmer - 20 minutes should be fine, but I think the longer the better. This is also just as good as leftovers. Place tortilla chips & shredded cheese in the bottom of a bowl & ladle soup over. Enjoy!

***Note to self - Ryan doesn't like the Kidney beans (next time just use white beans) & Anna pretty much just doesn't like this soup at all. Go figure! A good recipe to half - that will be interesting, but I'll try it next time.