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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Friday, November 4, 2011

Taco & Fajita Seasonings


I was thinking of ways to use ground beef and came across someone's idea of using it in a taco casserole. While the idea of taco casserole isn't exactly brain surgery, I thought the idea of using crescent rolls as the base of the casserole was brilliant! I took this little tidbit and ran with it creating something I knew the fam would love! We've already showcased nacho casserole AND burrito casserole so why not taco, too??? Give it a try! So easy and yummy! If your family likes tacos like mine does, you're bound to make them happy with this!


Taco Casserole



1 package crescent rolls
1 cup crushed tortilla chips - divided use
1 envelope taco seasoning mix (or 2 tablespoons homemade, recipe follows)
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion
8 oz sour cream
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
8 oz cheddar cheese- shredded
½ cup salsa
1 4 ounce can sliced olives - drained
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8x11 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Saute onion until slightly soft then add ground beef and cook until done. Add taco seasoning, less 1 tablespoon,  (or use homemade seasonings) with ½ cup water. Cook until thick.

Spread crescent rolls on bottom of baking pan (be sure to pinch seams together).

Sprinkle 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips on top of the crescent rolls then add meat. Spread sour cream mixture on top of meat then pour salsa on top of sour cream. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips, olives and finally cheese.

Cover with foil and bake about 25 – 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Allow to sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve on a bed of shredded lettuce with tomatoes and guacamole.


Here's the line-up.


Brown the ground beef with the onion.


Line the bottom of your casserole dish with the crescent rolls. You'll have to squeeze them in to make them all fit. I went up the ends with mine a little bit.


Add the seasoning to the meat and let it cook for a bit.


Add some taco seasoning to the sour cream. You can leave it plain if you want, but IT Guy won't touch plain sour cream.


Crush some tortilla chips and sprinkle on top of your crescent rolls.


Then start layering. Meat, sour cream, salsa, more crushed chips...


..olives....


..and cheese!


Bake it for about 20 - 30 minutes until it's hot and bubbly and delicious looking!



Taco Seasoning

1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons crushed dried red pepper flakes
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. instant minced garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Store in a sealed jar to use as needed.  Use 2 – 3  tablespoons of mixture for tacos. Makes the equivalent of 4 - 6 packages of taco mix.

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