Fun Food

Spicy Beef Vegetable Soup
Great with corn chips are by itself!

1lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
1 jar Ragu Mushroom and Green Peppers
1 cup chopped celery
1 can beef broth
2 cups water
pinch of salt, pepper and sugar
1 bag garden veggies (Green Gaint)
1 can Rotel tomatoes

First brown together ground beef, onion and garlic. Then add all but garden vegetables and Rotel tomatoes. Cook for about 25mins. Then add garden veggies and Rotel tomatoes cook another 20-30 mins until veggies are done.

Makes lots- good to freeze.


Mexican Pie
(not as complicated as it looks)

Spice mix
(sometimes I don't have one of these and substitute for something else)
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour

Filling
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups frozen corn thawed , or 1 can cream style corn (I prefer the cream style)
2 cans (14 1/2 ounce) Mexican or Chili style diced tomatoes
Cheese (as desired)

Corn Bread Topping (can substitute for corn muffin mix from the box)
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup veg. oil

Step One
Lightly oil a shallow 3 quart casserole dish. (may want to do to 1.5 quart 9x9 pan one to freeze for later and one to eat) . Combine the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl.

Step two
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet, drain. Add onion, bell pepper and saute 7-8 mins. Add garlic and spice mix stirring all the while, then stir in corn and tomatoes. Cover the pan and bring to gentle boil. stirring occasionally. Pour into pan(s). Add cheese to top as desired.

Step Four
heat the oven to 400D.
Add all ingredients for cornmeal into bowl whisking in egg, milk and oil until all is evenly blended. Pour batter over the filling and spread evenly.

Step Five.
Bake for 22 mins or until topping is golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
If freezing a pan do not bake cover and put into freezer. When baking from freezer bake longer on a lower temp to keep edges from burning.

Really yummy. Takes about 30-40 mins to prepare.