Italian Tortilla Casserole

 

Italian Tortilla Casserole

 

4 taco size flour tortillas

1 lb. ground beef

1 28 oz. can pasta sauce

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 tsp. dried basil

8 oz. sour cream

8 oz. cream cheese

½ cup milk

½ cup chopped onions

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 cups fresh baby spinach

 

Grease casserole dish.  Cook ground beef and drain off fat.  Stir in pasta sauce, [reserving a scant cup for later] basil, garlic, onion powder, and pepper.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, uncovered.

 

Beat the cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth. Add milk and onions and stir well.

 

Place half of the flour tortillas on bottom of casserole dish. I cut mine to fit. Cover with half of the meat mixture, half of the cream cheese mixture and all of the spinach.  Add remaining meat mixture and cover with tortillas. Spread reserved pasta sauce over top of tortillas.  Cover remaining cream cheese mixture and place in fridge.

 

Spray aluminum foil lightly with cooking spray and cover casserole tightly.

Bake 350º for 45 minutes. Remove foil and spread reserved cream cheese mixture over top, sprinkle with cheddar cheese.  Bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

 

© Crackerberries 2021

Hamburger Enchiladas

Hamburger Enchiladas

Enchilada Sauce:

2 Tbsp. Oil

½ cup finely chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 beef bouillon cube

½ cup hot water

20 oz. jar tomato sauce

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. sugar

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin

½ cup cold water

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Beef Filling:

1 Tbsp. oil

½ cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

6 red chili peppers

2 cups cooked rice

6-8 flour tortillas

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

5-6 hot green Chile peppers

Enchilada Sauce:

Heat oil in medium sauce pan; sauté onion, garlic and clove until tender. Dissolve bouillon in hot water; add to onion mixture. Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, sugar, salt and cumin.  Combine cold water and cornstarch; gradually stir into sauce mixture. Simmer 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Beef Filling:

In large skillet heat oil; sauté onion and garlic until tender.  Stir in ground beef and cook until no longer pink; drain off excess grease if necessary.  Add peppers, rice and ¾ cup of the enchilada sauce. Simmer 10-15 minutes.

Heat oven to 375º. Pour 1 cup of the enchilada sauce onto a large plate.  Lay tortilla on plate and flip to cover both sides with sauce. Spoon ¼ cup mixture into center and roll up.  Place in lightly greased baking dish seam side down. Continue using remaining ingredients.  Pour remaining enchilada sauce over top.  Bake 375º 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and hot Chile peppers. Bake an additional 5-6 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. 

© Crackerberries 2016

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steaks

1 lb. ground beef

1 egg                                                                            

¼ cup Italian style bread crumbs

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 pkt. Onion soup mix

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ medium red pepper, sliced

1 onion, sliced

Mix beef, egg, bread crumbs, 1 tbsp. of onion soup mixture, and Worcestershire sauce in large mixing bowl. Shape into 6 oval patties.  Place in lightly greased shallow baking dish.

In large measuring cup or bowl, combine remaining onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup. Stir until soup mix is blended in well with cream of mushroom. Layer onions and green peppers over patties and pour mixture over top.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake 350º for one hour.

© Crackerberries 2015

Ground Beef Pea Wiggle

Beefy Pea Wiggle

When you need to use up leftovers in the fridge and cupboard, sometimes when you mix them all together, they turn out pretty good.

¾ lb lean ground beef

1 medium onion

2 cloves garlic

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1¾ cup chicken broth

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup frozen peas

1 pkg onion soup mix

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

¼ cup parmesan cheese

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

2½ cups egg noodles

Preheat oven 375°

In medium skillet heat oil and cook garlic just until aromatic; add onions and cook for 3-5 minutes.  Add ground beef and cook and scramble until no longer pink.

Under-cook noodles by two minutes according to package instructions; drain in strainer and set aside.  Add chicken broth and onion soup mix to pan and heat just to boiling; add cream of mushroom soup and stir until well blended.

Add beef mixture, noodles, corn and peas to soup mixture and combine.  Pour into greased baking dish.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Swiss cheese.  Bake 375° 35-40 minutes until bubble and cheese is slightly browned.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

© Crackerberries 2013

Parmesan Crusted Burgers

Parmesan Crusted Burgers

1 lb ground beef

½ cup Italian style bread crumbs

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp onion powder

1 egg

¼ cup parmesan cheese

¼ cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese

½ tsp garlic salt

1 tsp fresh coarsely ground pepper

½ tsp BBQ spice

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1 tsp garlic salt, onion powder, and egg and mix well.  Shape into four patties. 

In small bowl combine parmesan cheese, garlic salt, pepper and BBQ spice and mix well.  Roll outside edges of patties in mixture, shake off excess.  Add mozzarella cheese and mix well.

Place patties in preheated cast iron skillet on medium heat and cook for 7 minutes.  Flip and cook an additional 4-5 minutes.  In the meantime, preheat broiler.  

Divide parmesan mixture over each patty.  Place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is slightly golden and bubbly.  Remove from skillet and serve on buns or alone with favorite sides.

© Crackerberries 2012

The Un-Classic Meatloaf

With food prices sky-rocketing anything to make food go longer is a good thing.  This meatloaf recipe makes a little meat go a long ways.

¾ lb ground beef

¼ lb bulk sausage

1 large clove garlic, minced

½ cup rolled oats

¼ cup potato flakes

1 egg

¼ cup BBQ sauce

1 small onion, diced

1 tsp marjoram

Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well.  Form into loaf in greased baking dish.  Garnish with ketchup if desired.  Bake 350º for 50 minutes.  

© Crackerberries 2011

Hamburger Pie & Tomato Pepper Sauce

2 cups flour tortilla mix
½ cup warm water
¾ lb ground burger
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
14½ oz. stewed tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp oregano
2 tsp corn starch
1 tsp fresh ground pepper

Combine tortilla mix and warm water in medium sized bowl. Mix well and knead until mixture is smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Cover with warm damp towel and let rest 10 minutes.

In large skillet cook the garlic, onion and burger in the vegetable oil until burger is brown. Drain tomatoes, reserving liquid. Add tomatoes and oregano to burger and cook just to heat.

Divide tortilla mix in half. Roll out first half to fit into pie plate. Prick the bottom with a fork and bake in 375º oven for 8 minutes. Pour mixture into cooked tortilla crust. Sprinkle with shredded cheeses. Roll out other half of crust and lay over top. Press to sides to seal. Make venting holes in top. Bake at 350º for 45 minutes.

Combine reserved tomato juice and corn starch, mix well. Microwave for 2 minutes; add pepper and stir well.

Slice pie and serve with tomato pepper sauce.


© Crackerberries 2011

Overstuffed Peppers with Piquant Sauce

Yum yum yum, I love stuffed peppers, they are like mini-meat loaves!

2 large green peppers
1 lb ground beef
1 envelope of onion soup mix
½ cup bread crumbs
1 tsp oregano
1 egg
¼ cup ketchup
1 lb ground beef
3 Tbsp brown sugar
4 Tbsp ketchup
½ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp dry mustard

Preheat oven to 400º

Cut peppers in half and discard seeds and white pulp. Wash and set on paper towels to drain.

In large bowl combine ground beef, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, oregano, egg and ¼ cup ketchup. Mix well. Pack tightly into green pepper halves. Arrange closely in lightly greased baking dish.

In small bowl combine brown sugar, nutmeg, dry mustard and ketchup and stir well. (I double this recipe because I like extra after it bakes); spoon evenly over peppers.

Bake uncovered at 400º for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350º and cover peppers with aluminum foil or baking dish cover and cook an additional 40-45 minutes. Remove from baking dish immediately. Add more sauce if desired.



© Crackerberries 2009

Secret Ingredient Hamburgers

We were in Port Royal, South Carolina visiting Mom and Richard. We stayed in this house called “The Big Pink”. Tall Cool One and I were in charge of din-din one night and we decided to make hamburgers. I told Mom it had a secret ingredient and asked her and Richard if they minded having onions. Both said they didn’t mind. When we sat down to eat, Mom had a fit because they had onions in them. Richard said, “Put some ketchup on it, Mildred.” She ended up giving the hamburger to Richard; the onions are optional.

Ingredients
1½ lb ground 85% beef
1 med onion, diced (optional)
¼ cup Italian style bread crumbs
1 egg
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup mix
¼ tsp garlic powder
4 hamburger buns
Lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles

Directions

Combine the burger, diced onion, bread crumbs, onion soup, garlic powder and egg and mix well. Form meat into 4 good size burgers. Grill over medium heat for 8 mins per side. Serve on burger buns with whichever condiments you choose.

…or as Richard would say, “Put some ketchup on it, Mildred.”