Easy Pleasing Meatloaf

Meatloaf is one meal my husband has missed since marrying me.  I am not a fan of meatloaf, mostly because I do not like ketcup, therefore, I never made it.  So when I came across this recipe, I thought I might as well give it a try...  I like every ingredient that goes in, so it couldn't taste all that bad.  
It turned out great!  I made some mashed potatoes and corn to go with it.   
Great meal=Happy Husband!  

Easy Pleasing Meatloaf

Prep Time:10 minutes  Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes  Makes: 8 servings

What you need:
2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg Stove Top Stuffing for Chicken (I use low sodium)
1 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce, divided

Make it:
Heat oven to 375
Place meat, stuffing mix, water, eggs, and 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in bowl.
Mix just until blended.
Shape into loaf in 13x9 inch baking dish.
Top with remaining barbecue sauce.
Bake 1 hour or until done.

Cheese Tortellini and Sausage

The crock pot is in full force around here.  I have been busy painting and getting things done.  I really don't want to stop and take the time to make dinner or another mess!  The crock pot is so easy!  Here is a great meal I came across on Pinterest.  I highly recommend it!  

Cheese Tortellini and Sausage

1 (19oz) bag frozen cheese tortellini
1lb sausage (I used Italian)
1 bag fresh spinach
2 cans Italian style diced tomatoes
2 cans low-fat chicken broth (I used low sodium)
1 (8oz) cream cheese, cut into cubes

1.  Brown the sausage in a skillet on the stove top until cooked and crumbled. Drain. 
2.  Add the sausage and remaining ingredients to a 6 quart slow cooker.  Stir to combine.
3.  Cook on Low for 5 hours, stirring twice during cook time.

We had this with garlic bread!  

Tacos

I would imagine everyone has tacos on their menu at some point during the month.  But if you don't, it is very simple and easy to do.  
You can choose to do beef or chicken, hard shell or soft.  That is about as complicated as it gets!  
We like to do a taco bar around here at least once a month!  

Shells:  I always keep hard and soft shells around.  I also make my own shells, but they are only for special occasions ;)  since they are fried and take longer to make... The recipe for those is under Mexican if you would like to try them sometime!
**I do recommend warming the hard and soft shells before using.  Especially the hard shells. They have a stale taste to them when they come right out of the box...

I make beef and/or chicken using low sodium taco seasoning.  When making beef, I usually follow the directions on the envelope.  When making chicken, I chop the chicken and then I just sprinkle some seasoning over the chicken and cook it on the stove until it is not pink.  You don't have to use a seasoning, but once I introduced the kids to it one time, now that is what they prefer...  You could just season the beef or chicken with some cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, season salt... whatever sounds good or whatever you have on hand!

Toppings:
cheese (I like to use Monterrey Jack)
lettuce
salsa
sour cream
tomatoes
guacamole
corn
nacho cheese

Pretty much anything goes!   The kids love being able to make their own tacos!!!

Some families like to designate one night to tacos each week, some like to have a Mexican night each week, but not always tacos, and then there is us, who it fits when it fits!  Every now and then I do theme weeks for a month or two, but then I get bored with it...  
Margaritas and nachos or guacamole dip go well with tacos too! ;)  

The kids also love setting up the taco bar and helping me get out everything we need!  

Cheddar Chicken

This is an easy meal, the kids can help too!  My kids love crushing crackers for me!!!  

Cheddar Chicken

16 buttery cracker (Ritz) crushed (about 3/4cup)

6oz Cheddar, grated

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Kosher salt and black pepper

4 skinless chicken breast

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• Heat oven to 350.  In a bowl, combine the crackers, cheese, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Dip the chicken in the butter, then in the cracker mixture, pressing gently to help adhere, and place in a foil-lined baking sheet.
• Sprinkle any remaining cracker mixture on the chicken and drizzle any remaining butter.  Back until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 25-30 minutes.  

We had this with rice and green beans.  

Crockpot Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

With school back in session and fall coming around, pull out those crock pots!!!!  What a better way to come home to dinner already done!!!

Crockpot Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

laurassweetspot.com

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 pounds Pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon Ground sage
½ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Pepper
1 clove Garlic; crushed
½ cup Water
½ cup Brown sugar
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar
½ cup Water
2 tablespoons Soy sauce

Instructions

Mix together the seasonings: sage, salt, pepper and garlic.
Rub over tenderloin. Place ½ cup water in slow cooker; place tenderloin in slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
hour before the roast is finished, mix together the ingredients for the glaze in a small sauce pan: brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic vinegar, water, soy sauce.
Heat over medium and stir until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes.
Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. *(For a more caramelized crust: remove from crockpot and place on aluminum lined sheet pan, glaze, and set under broiler for 1-2 minutes until bubbly and caramelized. Repeat 2 to 3 more times until desired crust is achieved.)
Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

*I recommend putting it in the broiler!  It turned out perfect!  Very tender!!!  The sauce was a hit with everyone!!!

Dorito Pie

I think this is one of my new favorite meals.  Super easy to make!  

I need start remembering to take pics of my meals...

Dorito Pie

www.centslessdeals.com

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning mix  (I used low sodium)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 can crescent roll dough
• 1 cup sour cream  
• 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese  (I used Montery Jack)
• 3 cups crushed Doritos
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1/2 stick melted butter

Instructions

1. Cook ground beef.
2. Drain and return to the pan.
3. Add the taco seasoning mix and water.
4. Simmer until water has boiled off (around 5 minutes)
5. Separate the crescent dough into triangles
6. Spray a 9" pie dish with nonstick cooking spray
7. Press triangles into pie dish with the points toward the center of the dish.
8. Press seams together to seal
9. Sprinkle 1 - 1/2 cups of the crushed Doritos onto the crescent crust.
10. Spoon ground beef over the top of the corn chips, spreading evenly.
11. Mix sour cream with salsa.
12. Spread sour cream mixture over meat.
13. Cover with the shredded cheese
14. Top with remaining crushed Doritos.
15. Top Doritos with melted butter.
16. Bake at 400 degrees until the crust is golden brown (about 20 minutes)

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf Minis

Now that we have moved and school is about to start up again, I thought I better start preparing meals instead of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill every night!!  There isn't anything wrong with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, but you can tell when summer is coming to an end because I am now getting tired of them!  
So here is a new recipe my family loved last night!  I wish I would have taken a pic but they were gone before I thought about it...  
I am not a fan of meatloaf, but this one is a winner!


Mozzerella Stuffed Meatloaf Minis
From: centslessmeals.com

1lb ground beef
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup ranch dressing
1 onion, diced
1lb mozzarella, cubed
muffin tin
salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix all ingredients except mozzarella in large bowl.
2. Once mixed, create a ball of meat mixture and press a cube of mozzarella into it.
3. Cover with equal amounts of meat mixture.
4. Reapeat until all meat is used up. (you want the balls to fit into a muffin pan)
5. Place mini meatloafs into greased muffin pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until baked through.