[bites] cheesy enchilada casserole- my version

monday i wanted to make taco's and a beef enchiladas but realized i didn't have any sauce and i didn't feel like making any homemade. i found this recipe but tweaked it with what i already had. turned out delicious! my changes are in in red. enjoy!

cheesy enchilada casserole via totally recipes

1 lb ground chuck
1 large onion, chopped  [1 decent size shallot]
2 1/2 cups salsa           [1 jar newmans black bean and corn salsa + 1 jar newsman's medium salsa]
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons taco seasoning [homemade]
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
6 to 8 flour tortillas (8 to 10 inches)
1 can corn, drained
3/4 cup sour cream
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 cup lettuce, shredded
1 tomato, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

In a large skillet, cook the ground chuck and onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain the beef. Add in the salsa, beans, dressing, sour cream, corn, taco seasoning, and cumin. Stir and mix well.

Place a layer of this beef mixture on the bottom of a two quart baking dish. Next, add a layer of grated cheese. Place a layer of flour or corn tortillas on top of grated cheese layer, then layer with the beef mixture again – then another cheese layer – then another layer of flour or corn tortillas. Repeat as many layers as you like or have room for. The top layer should be a nice amount of grated cheese.

Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. To prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil, it helps to spray the inside of the foil with spray oil (like Pam) first.

Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, tomato and cilantro. Makes 8 servings.

getting myself back into shape

via instagram

 (but can't remember the name)

1. i hate that i say this [in my mind] every morning and every night or whenever i look in the mirror.

2. i'm not trying to be all about weight but this is the heaviest i have ever been and i'm not liking it. [i say that every time i get heavier]

3. it depresses me because i don't feel healthy. its not all about my eating habits because they're not horrible but its that i'm not moving. [eats less move more motto]

4. so why don't you do something about it you ask?

5. well, because my body and my mind are fighting and my mind is winning. [telling me i can't run/walk or to eat junk food]

6. so last night i made tortilla soup which i think is pretty healthy. i love that i know all the ingredients thats in there. [mike had his with a cheese quesdilla.]

7. and i've continued by eating a bowl of granola and a healthy lunch today.

8. i'm also drinking this ice tea to help curb that afternoon sweet tooth appetite. [i also like their get clean and get charged teas.]

9. and i'm hoping to go for a walk/run once kaylee gets home from school.

10. and i'm making myself earn my sweet treats thats only redeemable on the weekends. i have to walk/run 3-5 miles for 5-6 days a week in order to get my treat.  

LET'S DO THIS!

i love food!

roasted shrimp enchiladas 

via: damn delicious

1. i made this for dinner last night. oh its sooooo good that we're going to have it again tonight.

2. after tasting the shrimp filling, i left out the jalapeno's in the cream sauce since it was plenty spicy already. i even made a salad to go with it.

3. a friend invited me over for lunch yesterday. she made a chicken curry pasta dish that was yummy.

4. i took some cupcakes from a local bakery as a thank-you.

5. not sure whats going on but ifeel more energized this week that i even feel like cleaning house!

6. or i'm just so sick of the dust bunnies flying around that i'm ready to clean them up!

7. i'm waiting for my new orla kiely purse to arrive- any day now. i'm hoping this one will be better as my camera purse. (the strap on the dooney purse is too thin and hurts my shoulder)

8. i'm also waiting for my erin condren purchase.... i need to go on a spending freeze!

9. monday, kaylee and i watch dancing with the stars. we're rooting for james, meryl and charlie.

10. i mentioned something about how good looking james maslow is.  kaylee wouldn't agree with me out loud because her dad was there but very slyly she shook her head yes. it was so funny!

random wednesday

taken last night around 7ish. the lighting was awesome.

the operator not so awesome.

1. i took a few other photos while fleanut and i went on a walk but they came out blurry. operator error.

2. i made this tortellini salad for my dinner while the kids ate tacos. i added avocado. its yummy. [recipe original found via pinterest]

3. fleanut is wearing her new swim soup [kayleeism even though she says the correct way now]. i got it "free" through my rewards points.

4. so its official, our house in indiana is no longer ours. not sure how it all works but we got it for that "guarantee offer" price bp offered us though the buyers are paying $5000 less...

5. it's money in our pocket and i'm not complaining!

6. our neighbor friend is a family physician and he was nice enough to suggest some meds for me to take for my allergies. so far its cleared some of my runny nose.

7. Congratulations are in order for one of my favorite authors. she got married over the weekend! yeah, i'm jealous, she got to marry a surfer!

8. walked 4 miles today. my legs and feet were pretty sore afterwards.

9. can't wait to get my new duvet cover! bummed that its taking so long in getting shipped.

10. and i want to get kaylee these missoni shoes. so cute!