Taco Lasagna (Easy Style)

I know you thought for a second this would be a Mexican Salad Tutorial. Don't worry it's coming!  But for now I share with you our Mexican Monday meal, Taco Lasagna!  This meal was quick, easy and yummy good!  Thanks to Old El Paso and Taco Bell for giving me the basis for my great idea.  Have you ever had a crunch wrap supreme from Taco Bell? By far my favorite Taco Bell offering! Well this is my semi homemade rendition of that using a kit and some other add ins.

First you need a few things:
Old El Paso Soft Taco Bake Dinner Kit
1lb Ground Beef or Turkey (I use Turkey)
Shredded Cheese (Mexican Mix, Colby Jack or Cheddar)
Tortilla Chips (I used bite sized but I think Restaurant Style would be best)
Sour Cream
Tomato 
Lettuce
**If you don't want to or can't find the kit you can buy flour tortillas, taco seasoning and a jar of queso cheese sauce separately.

Follow the instructions per the box on making the taco meat mixture. Once that is made start layering in your baking dish (9x9) with a flour tortilla. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the tortilla until you have a nice layer of cheese. Then take a few Tortilla Chips and position them on top of the cheese making a layer one chip thick. Once your chip layer is on add some of your meat mixture (about 1/4 of the mixture).

Next, you want to "butter" the back of your next flour tortilla with sour cream. Just enough to make a thin layer across.

Lay this sour cream side down on the meat mixture.  Repeat this process until you get to the last flour tortilla. Use remaining meat mixture on the top flour tortilla. Once you have the meat on open your packet of squeeze cheese (or queso cheese if you aren't using the kit) and spread around the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Once you take it out of the oven let it stand for a few minutes while you chop up some tomato and lettuce. Sprinkle on top and serve!  

I really enjoyed this dish because I like both the hard and the soft shell taco. It makes enough to feed my family and because it is not too spicy the kids will eat it too.  Someday I may even get a little crazy and try it with Doritos inside! 

Everything but the Dough Dip

Ever wondered what to do with the half bag of left over chocolate chips, holiday candy, or the not even a full serving of oatmeal sitting in your cupboards?  Well this recipe will help with that. I found the original recipe on skiptomylou.org under Monster Cookie Dough Dip. Great recipe, but I have changed it up a bit to incorporate all my "left overs". I call it my "Everything but the Dough" Dip, since to me we are leaving the dough (flour and such) out.

My oldest daughter, E, and I made this together the other day for our Community Group snack. She was so excited about it she made this as her "How To..." presentation for her first grade class. She thinks this is the best thing ever! And of course, ever so easy!

First things first, make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened. That is 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter and 8 oz of cream cheese. Add those with the 1 cup of peanut butter in a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer until smooth. ** 1 stick of butter is a lot in this recipe, I would recommend using 1/2 a stick, otherwise you can taste the butter a little too much**

Next, add in 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar and 1 tsp. of Vanilla Extract. Continue to beat with the mixer until smooth. Once mixed well stir in your "left overs." In my case I had 1 cup of oats (I used whole but quick oats work too), 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, M&M's left over from Valentines Day (hence the pink and red) and coconut about 1/2 cup.

This makes a great bowl full of fun. You can mix up the base for this dip and add any ingredients you think would taste great together. Maybe some Reese Pieces and Crunched up Butterfinger Bars or Heath Bar? Or make it more of a Trail Mix Dip and add Raisins, Nuts and Coconut with the M&M's.  I think I may have to try that next! The great part is once you get the base the possibilities are endless!  Be creative!!  It also gives your kids the opportunity to put their favorite treats into one. I know my kids like that second best to actually eating it. You can serve this with Graham Cracker quarters, sticks or even pretzels.

Everything but the Dough Dip 

1 Stick of Butter **I use 1/2 stick**
8 oz of Cream Cheese
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 cup Powdered Sugar
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (or a mixture of mini's and regular or whatever you have)
1 Cup M&M's (Or a Cup of any candy pieces you like)
1 Cup Oats (any kind)
At this point the rest is up to you and your imagination!
Suggestions: Crunched up Nuts, Coconut, Raisins, Craisins, Mint Chocolate Chips or Andes Mints crunched up, Heath Bar, the list goes on and on!

Welcome!

Welcome to The Cooking Mommy's Blog! I am a stay at home military wife and mother of 3/4 (three of my own and one I inherited with marriage, hence 3/4.)  Our house is very busy so meals do not come gourmet style. I mean, how many kids do you know that eat gourmet food? My oldest, E, will eat just about anything, but she is an exception to the rule for sure! "I don't like that" is a common phrase from our kids, so finding food that appeases everyone (or at least most of them), on a budget, and is easy to make is "fun" (insert sarcasm here.)
With this blog I will share some great, easy, mostly kid likable recipes via video blog and notes to you with pictures. On occasion I may throw a craft idea or a mommy tip or two in there as well. After all, The Cooking Mommy can "cook up" a mean craft now and then (sorry for the lame pun LOL) and may have something smart to say too. tay tuned for the yummy goodness to come and don't forget to leave me a comment for suggestions for future blogs and how you liked the recipes!

The Cooking Mommy