Easy Taco Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup salad dressing (I use Miracle Whip)
2 tsp. chili powder
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
2 cups shredded cheese
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 cups shredded lettuce

Fry beef and add salsa, salad dressing and chili powder. In a 2 quart baking dish, layer half of the ground beef, cheese, and then the rest of the ground beef. Cover with chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. If desired, top with tomatoes and lettuce before serving.

Salsa Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 medium onion
3 cups shelled pasta (cooked)
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1 cup salsa
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1/2 can mushrooms (optional)
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1 1/2 tbsp. Tex Mex spices

Brown ground beef and onion. Add seasoning salt, Tex Mex spices, green peppers and mushrooms. Cook until tender. Cook shelled pasta as directed. Combine pasta and rest of the ingredients with ground beef mixture in a 2 1/2 lit casserole dish. Save some cheese for sprinkling on top of dish. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Carrot Muffins

2 cups flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 - 1 tsp. cinnamon (depending on your preference)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk/sour milk
1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped dates (optional)

Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together wet ingredients in another bowl. Blend wet ingredients into flour mixture. Add carrots, nuts and dates. Mix until just mixed, never over mix muffins! Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Saskatoon Muffins

1/4 cup soft butter or margarine
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup buttermilk/ sour milk/ plain yogurt
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup fresh or frozen saskatoons

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg. Add flour and dry ingredients alternately with milk. Fold in saskatoons. Makes 12 muffins. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Sweet Potato Casserole

2 large eggs
3 cups mashed sweet potato (about 2 lbs. uncooked)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Combine in large bowl. Spread evenly in greased 2 quart (2L) casserole dish.

Topping:
1/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Melt margarine, add pecans, brown sugar and flour. Stir well. Sprinkle over potato mixture. Bake, uncovered in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes until heated through and golden. Serves 8. This tastes good enough to be called a dessert!

Whole Wheat Yogurt Bread for the Breadmaker

1/2 c Warm water
1/2 c Plain yogurt

1 ts Salt


2 tbsp Ground Flax seed
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Butter
 (or applesauce)
1 tbsp Dry milk powder

2 1/4 c Whole wheat flour
1 ts Active dry yeast


All ingredients except the water should be at room temp before starting. Add ingredients to the pan in the order listed. Select Whole Wheat Bread. Press start.

Budget Beef Stroganoff

1 - 1 1/2 lb lean Beef Round Steak (or any leftover steak, roast beef etc.)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. margarine
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/4 cups beef broth or water
1 cup chopped onion
1 small green pepper
1 can mushrooms (optional)
1 cup chopped carrots
2 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups hot, cooked rice

Sprinkle meat with seasonings and brown in margarine. Add onions and green pepper, and cook a bit longer. Stir in soup, 1 cup broth, and mushrooms. Cover; simmer 30 minutes or until meat is tender. Blend remaining broth and flour, stir into meat mixture. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add sour cream; heat thoroughly, but do not boil. Serve over rice.