Taco Casserole

Taco Casserole

Prep time: 10 min; Total time: 40 min

• Tortilla Chips
• 1 Tbs Chili Oil (or olive oil and red pepper flakes)
  
• 1 Onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  
• 1 pound Ground Beef
  
• 2 Tbs Taco Seasoning
  
• 1 can Black Beans, drained
  
• 1 cup Salsa
  
• Cheese
  

Heat oven to 350.

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and garlic and sautee until soft. Add meat and taco seasoning. Cook, breaking up meat with a spatula, for about 5 minutes. Add beans and salsa. Mix well and continue to cook until salsa thickens.

Line the bottom of a large baking dish with tortilla chips, pressing down on them lightly to break them into bite-sized pieces. Spread the meat and bean mixture over the chips and top with cheese. Add sliced jalapenos or other toppings that you ant to be cooked. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and gooey.

Scoop up with additional chips if desired.

 **http://www.healthy-delicious.com/2010/05/taco-bake/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love the poem!

Materials:

Blue Cardstock

Green Cardstock

Yellow Cardstock to back poem

Poem printed from the computer

Handprint Turkey (Made with paint)

Luminate, Building 429, and Newsboys

On November 10, 2012 I went to Grace Church to see Luminate, Building 429, and Newsboys. I LOVE Building 429 so I knew I had to buy tickets as soon as they went on sale. The concert ended up selling out pretty quickly so it was a good thing I bought tickets when I did. The concert was fantastic! Luminate and Building 429 were signing autographs and taking pictures with their fans. I was bummed out because I didn't partake in that. I hope they come back soon because I'll definitely be seeing them in concert again! I will be buying one concert ticket and I will be staying after to meet the bands!!

Luminate!

Sam!

Building 429!

The energy from Building 429 was INSANE!

I LOVE this picture!

Loved seeing my favorite band in concert!

JRoy!

Newsboys!

The drummer went up.

And then he started spinning!

It was the coolest part of the concert!

Halloween Craft

Adorable!

Ghost Footprint:

1. Paint child's foot with white paint.
2. Press onto black construction paper.
3. Add eyes and a mouth with permanent marker.
Optional: Add a bow for a girl ghost. Type out 'Happy Halloween' and glue onto the paper.

Squash Mac and Cheese

Prep: 15 min.   Bake: 14 min.   Oven: 425   Cook: 40 min.

12 oz dried Rigatoni

1 1/2 lb. Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks (3 1/2 cups) 

2 3/4 cups Milk

1/4 cup all- purpose Flour

8 oz. smoked Gruyere Cheese, shredded (2 cups)

8 slices Bacon

2 small sweet Onions, cut into chunks

3 oz. Sourdough Bread

2 Tbsp. Butter, melted

Fresh flat- leaf Italian Parsley

1. Preheat oven to 425. Lightly butter a 3- quart baking dish; set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; transfer to a large bowl.

2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine the squash and 2 1/2 cups of the milk over medium- high heat. Bring to boiling; reduce heat to medium, and simmer until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir together remaining 1/4 cup of milk and flour; stir into the squash mixture. Bring to boiling; cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the Gruyere until melted; keep warm. 

3. Meanwhile, in a very large skillet cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels. Combine; set aside. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. bacon drippings. Return skillet to heat. 

4. Add onions to skillet; cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and increase heat to high. Cook 4 to 6 minutes more, stirring, until onions are golden.

5. Add squash- cheese mixture, onions, and bacon to the bowl with the pasta. Toss well to combine, then transfer to prepared baking dish.

6. Sprinkle bread and remaining Gruyere over the pasta mixture. Bake until top is browned, about 14 to 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with Parsley. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Creamy Bacon Carbonara

Absolutely delicious!

CREAMY BACON CARBONARA

 2 eggs

1/4 cup Cream or Heavy Cream  (Whipping Cream)

1/3 cup Parmesan

Fresh diced Parsley or dried flakes

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp Red Pepper flakes

*(I doubled the Sauce recipe, and it was perfect)

1/2 lb. bacon

1 small onion, chopped (opt)

3 mushrooms sliced (opt)

1/2 lb. Pasta

DIRECTIONS:

Beat the eggs, cream, Parmesan, parsley, salt and the red pepper together in a bowl.  I just used a fork.  Fry the bacon until crisp, then crumble and set aside.  With 1 -2 Tbsp. bacon grease, saute the onion and the mushrooms until the onions are translucent and golden.  Drain the pasta and while still warm, add to the onions and mushrooms.  Pour cream mixture into the pasta, and stir over low heat for one to two minutes. (**I doubled the sauce recipe and I saved a bit of the pasta water, just in case my sauce got thicker than I liked – simply add a bit if you need it)   Don’t do this on high heat, or you will make scrambled eggs.  Serve with additional Parmesan, and a loaf of Crusty French bread and a salad.  So Good!

*I added Zucchini, Chicken, Yellow Pepper, Parmesan Cheese, and some additional spices.

Dave Ryan's 5K

I ended up walking my first 5K, but I walked it in 40 minutes so I'm proud of myself. It was really about the cause anyway and Special Olympics MN was a great cause! 

Over 3,000 runners!

Good friends since 1st grade!

Lining up!

Walking to the start line!

Start line for the 10K and finish line for both the 5 and 10K race.

Walking to the start line!

And were off!

Almost done!

We did it!

My toe was killing me by the end and with reason, look at that blister!