Cheesy Bean Dip

Something to go with the homemade tortilla chips....

Here's what you need (plus the prepared hamburger)

1 can refried beans

1 8 oz package cream cheese - softened to room temp

1/2 pound (or so) hamburger, browned and drained

1.5 Cups grated cheese (I used some cheddar and some mozzarella)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl except the grated cheese and place in a smaller baking dish (the one pictured here is 6X6). Add the grated cheese to the top, covering evenly.

Place in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is fully melted but not browning.

Goes great with any kind of chips!

Homemade Tortilla Chips

I don't like to waste things. Much. And whenever I buy tortilla shells for tacos, enchiladas or burritos, I always end up throwing out a few shells. This time I decided to try and make something with them.

I had 4 leftover, large, soft taco shells. (Called "burrito size" on the package.)

Taking one soft shell I brushed a little vegetable oil on it. Then added another shell on top and oiled that one. Keep going until all shells are stacked on top of each other, with oil on them.

I cut them into 1/8th's and could have gone even smaller, but just didn't feel like it.

I oiled a cookie sheet very lightly and then places all of the cut pieces at random angles, over-lapping as needed. I used a little seasalt on the top and then placed in a preheated 350 degree oven. At 10 minutes I checked, and a few of them were done so I removed them and put the rest back into the oven for about 5 more minutes.

The Easiest Lasagna....EVER!

I love lasagna but always thought it was too time consuming to make it very often. When trying to figure out what to make for supper the other night I realized I kinda sorta had most of the items on hand, and would "wing it" with the items I didn't have. What came out of the oven was a big hit. So big, that I've now made it 3 times in the last several days. With requests to make enough to have leftovers!

1 pound (or so) hamburger and/or sausage (I like a combo of the 2)

About half a box of lasagna noodles

About 3/4 jar of spaghetti sauce

1 16 oz carton of cottage cheese*

2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

Sprinklings of garlic salt

Boil your lasagna noodles per the directions on the package. You can use the kind that doesn't require boiling, which will make this recipe even easier! Brown the hamburger and/or sausage together until no pink remains.

Preheat oven to 350.

When the noodles are ready, take your casserole dish and spoon a little spaghetti sauce in the bottom and then place one layer of noodles over the sauce. Then place half of the meat mixture on top of that followed by half of the cottage cheese and a sprinkling of garlic salt.

Then repeat the layers, using the remainder of the meat and cottage cheese and more garlic salt, but not too much. Finish by layering the last of the noodles on top and then sprinkle all of the Mozzarella Cheese on top.

Ready to be placed in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Best paired with French bread with garlic butter and a side salad.

*You can replace cottage cheese with Ricotta if you want. Ricotta is more expensive and as far as I am concerned, when it is baked like this you can't tell the difference between the 2 cheeses. If you don't like cottage cheese, please don't omit it. Whether you use cottage or Ricotta, they add a nice creaminess to the dish.