Taco Soup

We started using this recipe about five years ago when our mom got it from a neighbor. Since then it has become a regular meal in our family. We do not eat very much soup in our family but this is a well liked dish for every member in our family except our dad. Our dad does not like Mexican food of any kind. Whenever we eat Mexican food he will make pasta for himself.

1 pd. lean ground beef
1 chopped onion
1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
1-28 oz. can tomatoes
2-16 oz. can kidney beans (undrained)
1 pkg. Taco seasoning mix
1 cup water

Toppings:
Fritos
Grated Cheese
Sour Cream

Brown hamburger in medium size pan; drain. Add onion and cook until onion is transparent. Add remaining ingredients excluding toppings. Simmer at least 20 minutes (could do in crock pot all day). Serve with dollop of sour cream, sprinkle cheese and top with Fritos.

Kabobs

To celebrate and recognize each child's birthday, we would get to choose our favorite dinner and our mom would make it for us. Melissa would always choose this meal or scones for her birthday meal. We are not positive where this recipe came from but it is prepared at least once a year for our family dinner.

Top Sirloin cubed
2 large sweet onions
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
18-20 large mushrooms
1/3 cup oil
2 zucchini
1/4 cup lemon juice
5 bay leaves
3 garlic cloves
3 T grated onions
2 T Worcestershire sauce
3 T red wine vinegar
1 T black pepper
skewers

In large bowl combine lemon juice, bay leaves, garlic, grated onions, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, and black pepper together. Add top sirloin and coat it thoroughly. Put cover on bowl and let sit overnight turning the sirloin every 5 hours when possible. Soak the skewers in water before assembling the kabobs. Put the vegetables and meat on to the skewers in any order you would like. Grill the kabobs for about 10 minutes on each side. Serve over rice.

Chicken Chalupas

This recipe is one of the most frequent meals we would eat growing up. Our mom would prepare this meal at least once a month for dinner. Because it takes a little bit longer to prepare our mom would not always want to make it. When this would happen we would volunteer to make the meal so we could eat it for dinner. It is one of our family's favorite recipes.

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 small can green chilies
1 pint sour cream
3 or 4 green onions
½ tsp. Oregano
½ tsp. Chili powder
½ tsp. Paprika
½ tsp. Red pepper
2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese (or less)
1 dozen tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or less)

Combine soup, chilies, olives, sour cream, green onions, and spices. Add jack cheese. Remove 2 cups of mixture and add diced chicken.
Place chicken mixture into tortillas, not too full, roll up. Place in a 9 x 13 pan. Spoon remaining soup mixture over top and cover with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Best Lasanga Ever!

A family favorite recipe our mother makes for us very often for Sunday meals. She got this recipe from a friend. The recipe is very easy and has become a recipe we can turn to for last minute meals. Our mother has taught her children how to make this meal so they can make dinner for the family.

1 lb of ground beef, cooked and finely chopped
1 onion diced
1 quart (28 oz. can) tomatoes
1-12 oz. can tomato paste
1 T sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 t oregano leaves
1/2 t thyme leaves
1/4 t garlic salt
1/2 t crushed red pepper
1 bay leaf
1 lb (14 oz.) lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 qt cottage cheese
16 oz mozzarella cheese, grated

Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Combine the seasonings with meat in large saucepan and then add tomato paste and tomatoes. Get a large glass pan (9X13). Put half the m eat/sauce mixture to bottom of pan. On top of that put half of the noodles. Next, add a layer of the cottage cheese with mozzarella cheese. Repeat.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours.