Taco Soup

Yesterday at about 11:30 I got an insane craving for taco soup (no, mom, I'm not pregnant). But I realized how much I love this and thought it would be a good easy recipe to share.

I originally got this recipe from my friend and ex co-worker Mel. I made this a ton while I lived in Scotland and had to modify because a lot of the ingredients weren’t the same. So this is my modified version.

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 16 oz can pinto beans
1 16 oz can black bean
1 16 oz can corn
1 jar of tomato sauce
1 16 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 pkt of taco seasoning (I use reduced sodium to make it a bit healthier)
1 pkt of ranch dressing seasoning (not buttermilk!)
1 (small) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional

Instructions:
Brown ground beef and onion. Cook thoroughly. Add beef and onion mixture to a large pot, then add all of the cans and seasonings and stir. I have seen some recipes that call for the cans drained, however I prefer them un-drained. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Garnish:
Sour cream
Cheese
Tortilla Chips

Easy Fried Rice

I make this all the time when I'm feeling too lazy to go to the store or cook anything complex.  This is another Aunt Paula goodie. :) It goes great with teri chicken!

1/4 c. olive oil

4 cups cooked rice

2 cloves garlic

1 envelope onion mushroom soup mix

1/2 c. water

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed

2 eggs, slightly beaten

In a skillet heat the oil.  Add the rice and garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until rice is heated.  Stir in soup mix blended with water and soy sauce.  Cook for 1 minute.  Add peas and carrots and cook for 2 minutes or until heated.  Make a well in the center of the rice and quickly stir in eggs.  Cook gently until not quite done.  Stir eggs into rice until done.

Weird... But I love it. Pasta with ham and egg pasta

This is a strange one.  But I love it.  I mean- who doesn't love butter, ham and pasta?  My Dad discovered this .  I think it's great!  I don't think my step mom cared for it. 

This is also an ideal dish for one. You really can cook it in 10 minutes once the water comes to a boil-just adjust the proportions accordingly.
 

Pasta with ham and egg pasta

Makes 3 or 4 main course or about 6 first course servings

Salt and black pepper
1 pound spaghetti
4 to 8 tablespoons (1/2 to 1 stick)
butter
8 slices ham (about 6 ounces), cut into ribbons
4 eggs
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to taste
 

1. Set a large pot of water to boil and salt it. Turn the oven on to its lowest setting; warm 4 pasta bowls in it. When the water is ready, add the pasta. Meanwhile, put 1 tablespoon of the butter and the ham into a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the ham colors, about 2 minutes, then divide the ham among the pasta bowls.
2. Add the remaining butter (the more the better, of course) to the pan and, when the foam subsides, crack the eggs into the pan. Cook them sunny side up, until the whites are nearly firm and the yolks very runny. The butter will begin to color while the eggs are cooking; if it threatens to burn, lower the heat to medium.
3. When the pasta is tender but not mushy, drain it, reserving a bit of the cooking water. Put the pasta in the bowls. Use a spatula to transfer a fried egg to each bowl of pasta and pour all the butter from the pan around the eggs onto the pasta. Slice the eggs on the pasta and toss them with the pasta, adding cheese and, if necessary, a little of the pasta cooking liquid, to make a sauce. Add salt if necessary, and lots of black pepper, and serve.

My go to meal- Tortellini Stir-fry

I make this meal a lot.  I mean a lot.  At least a couple times a month.  Mainly because it's easy, has lots of veggies, heats up well for leftovers, and goes a long way.

1 9 oz package tortellini
1 T vegetable oil
1 pkg frozen stir-fry vegetables
1/3 cup peanut or garlic stir-fry sauce (sometimes to mix it up, I'll even use low sodium teriyaki sauce)
2 T water
2 T chopped peanuts or cashews (optional)

Cook Tortellini according to package directions. Heat oil in skillet over med-high heat. Add veggies and stir 8 min. Add Tortellini, sauce, and water. Cook 2 min. Sprinkle on nuts before serving.