Taco Casserole

The quick, easy meal everyone eats.  It can't be made healthier or you can splurge either way most everyone will enjoy it.

Taco Casserole


meat--ground beef or shredded chicken 
onion - chopped
pepper- chopped
taco seasoning (low sodium you can't tell the difference)
grated cheese
tortilla chips
shredded lettuce
tomato
greek yogurt


Saute the meat till just cooked with the onions and peppers.  Add seasoning packet with about 3/4 cup water let simmer about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile in 13 x 9 baking dish layer bottom with tortilla chips.  Empty saute pan onto chips, top with grated cheese and bake @ 350 till cheese melts.

Serve with: shredded lettuce, tomato, greek yogurt, avacado, you can add black beans, refried beans to meat mixture while it is simmering, or any chopped cooked vegies to boost the vegie intake.

bake till cheese melts

Eggplant Parmesan

I think every time I make this it is a little different, but it is always good.  This time I added ricotta with caramelized onions and mushrooms, it came out great.

Eggplant peeled and sliced (I used 2 med sized)
onion sliced thin
mushrooms sliced
ricotta I used part skim
1 egg
Italian seasoning
parsley
Parmesan
Provolone (happened to be out of Mozzarella)
wholewheat bread crumbs
your favorite sauce
capers


Broil the eggplant slices on a cookie sheet till just browned, flip and do other side. Caramelize onions and mushrooms in a saute pan.  Mix ricotta, Italian seasoning, parsley, Parmesan and egg in a bowl.  Capers were added to red sauce giving it a nice flavor.
To assemble spread a layer of sauce in 9 x 13 pan or individual dishes layer eggplant slices, mix onion/mushroom mixture with ricotta then spread over layer of eggplant, top with another layer of eggplant, sprinkle bread crumbs over eggplant, then top with sauce.  Add more Parmesan cheese over sauce, then Mozzarella or Provolone, sprinkle more bread crumbs.  Bake till bubbly.

This is a healthier way of making it, you don't fry the eggplant and there is less breading but you still get the flavor with some crunch from the crumbs.  Great for a vegetarian meal, and you really can't mess it up.

broiling eggplant

sauting onions and mushrooms

ricotta, egg & spices

assembling

ready for oven

finished side photo 

Serves nicely when done in stacks.