Beef Taco Salad with Tomato Dressing

Ingredients
For the Meat:
3/4 pound lean ground beef (90 percent lean or higher)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, plus more to taste
1/3 cup water

For the dressing:
4 medium tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup grated Cheddar
2 ounces baked corn tortilla chips (about 32 chips)

Directions
To prepare the meat, heat a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally and breaking the meat up with the spoon. Add the garlic and beans and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the chili powder, cayenne and water and stir until well combined and some but not all of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Meat mixture may be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To make the tomato dressing, in a medium bowl, combine tomatoes (with their juices), oil, lime juice, salt and pepper. Dressing may be prepared up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Place 2 cups of lettuce on each plate or in a lunch container. Top each serving with 1 cup of the beef mixture then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of cheese. If making to-go, pack 3/4 cup of the tomato mixture in a separate sealable container and put about 8 chips in a separate bag. Right before eating, pour a portion of the tomato mixture with the liquid on top of each salad, and crush tortilla chips on top.

Calories 430; Total Fat 22 g; (Sat Fat 8 g, Mono Fat 10 g, Poly Fat 2 g) ; Protein 29 g; Carb 36 g; Fiber 9 g; Cholesterol 70 mg; Sodium 770 mg
Excellent source of: Protein, Fiber, Vitamin A, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc
Good source of: Riboflavin, Vitamin K, Manganese

Stroganoff

• Meat-- stew meat works the best but you can use hamburger
• 1 can mushroom soup
• 1 can milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
• 1 pkg. egg noodles

Take meat and roll in flour. Brown the meat in shortening adding salt and pepper to the meat as it browns.

Remove meat from the pan and set aside. Add soup, milk, and sour cream if you are using it. Stir until mixed well together and add meat back in. Simmer until it thickens, serve over noodles or rice

Lasagna

This is the BEST recipe for Lasagna that I have EVER made!

From the kitchen of my mother-in-law Connie!

Lasagna

Makes 8x11 pan

1 lb. ground beef
3 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
9-11 lasagna noodles
12-oz. lowfat Cottage Cheese
12 oz. grated Mild Cheese
8 oz. grated Mozzarella Cheese

Cook and crumble ground beef until cooked. Add chopped onion if desired. Drain grease. Add tomato sauce and simmer.In the meantime, cook lasagna noodles in pot of boiling water to desired doneness. Rinse in cold water and let stand in water until noodles are removed. Grate mild and mozzarella cheese into separate bowls.

Layer as follows:Layer of lasagna noodles across bottom of pan (3 noodles). Wipe excess water off noodles as you remove from pot. Add 1/3 hamburger sauce mix. Sprinkle 1/4-1/2 C cottage cheese on this, then sprinkle 1/3 of mild cheese, then 1/3 of mozzarella cheese. Add two more similar layers on top of first layer. Fit in extra noodles in middle layer (5). Cover with aluminum foil and heat for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven. May be stored in fridge or freezer until ready to heat. It will require at least 1 hour to heat cold lasagna--longer if frozen. Bake until heated through. Enjoy! Leftover lasagna is even better than the first day--if you happen to have leftovers

Zippy Beef Tips

• 2 lbs stewing meat, cubed
• 2 Cups sliced, fresh mushrooms
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1 Cup 7-Up or other lemon-lime soda

Place meat and mushrooms in slow cooker. Combine mushroom soup, soup mix and soda. Pour over meat. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours. Serve over rice.

Crock-Pot Italian Beef

Ingredients:
4-5 lb pot roast or beef
3 C water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp onion salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp garlic salt
1 Pkg. Good Season Salad Dressing (dry)
1 onion (optional)
1 loaf French bread

Stir spices in water and pour over the beef. Cook on low all day. Shred beef and return to broth for 15 minutes. Serve on buns of over French bread.