Taco Pockets

We love this simple little meal that I found here on pinterest.  The only thing is that I use a biscuit for the top and bottom - I pinch them together.  I think if I bought the larger biscuits then it would work to just fold them over. Also, I used 3/4 lb hamburger and half of a taco seasoning packet and it made 15 little taco pockets (because of the smaller biscuit size?) So, I buy 3 rolls of biscuits, not one when I make these. 

Taco Pockets

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 packet taco seasoning plus required ingredients for tacos (usually just water)
• Cheese of your choice
• 1 roll Biscuits

Instructions

1. Follow directions on the taco seasoning to make taco meat. (usually taco seasoning and water)
2. Flatten biscuits into a flat 6″ round shape
3. Add a tablespoon (or so) of the taco mixture onto middle of the flattened biscuit.
4. Add cheese on top.
5. Fold over the biscuit and seal edge. If you can’t seal all the way around, just do one small area in the center.
6. Cook according to the directions on the biscuits.
7. Eat and enjoy!! You can either cut these and use a fork or pick them up like a taco. Either way is delicious

Taco Chicken

This is a fast, yummy meal that is a good freezer meal, too.

1 jar salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
3-4 chicken breasts

Once again, I am not a crock pot person, but this is a good crock pot meal.  Put it in the crock pot for 4 hours on low.  If you are like me and don't crock pot, put it in a pot on the stove, bring to a boil, then simmer for at least 30 minutes. 

Serve on tortillas with your favorite garnishes.  We love sour cream and shredded cheese - easy!
Feeds 6.

Mango Chicken

Another winner from my sis in law.  This is easy, but sure looks and tastes like you tried hard.

2 cups Mango Salsa (I get the peach mango salsa from Costco)
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 chicken breasts

This is a crock pot meal, but I do not do well with crock pots. I just don't think about cooking that many hours in advance.  So, if you are a crock-potter, you could put all of these ingredients in your crock pot for 4 hours on low.  If you are like me, then throw it all in a pot on the stove, bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.  Longer if you like.  Serves 4 - 6.

Serve on tortillas with sour cream and shredded cheese.  This is an easy meal to freeze, too.

Cheesy Noodles

This is ultimately our family's favorite dinner. It's just an easier way of saying spaghetti with cheese on top. This is one from my mother in law - no wonder we like it so much! Once again, easy, not much to it. 

1 box of rigatoni (or 12 oz bag)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 - 1/2 pound ground beef
Shredded Cheddar chesse or shredded mozerella

Boil noodles while cooking meat.  Drain noodles, drain meat.  Put in a casserole dish and pour spaghetti sauce on top.  Mix together.  Sprinkle cheese on top (I am not going to specify how much - everyone has a different idea of what is good/healthy.)  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Feeds 6 +

Chili Mac

I am not going to say that all of my quick meals are healthy.  I figure my little family eats pretty healthy most of the time, and sometimes we just need an easy meal without the healthy fuss.  So, here is one of those meals.

Chili Mac

2 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
1 can (15 oz) favorite Chili (or homemade)

Cook the Macaroni as stated on the box.  Add the chili. Stir together and serve.  Yum!  Feeds at least 6.

German Rice

I am sure this meal has nothing to do with Germany, but this is the name that we know it by.  It was made by a family friend who was german, so, there you go.  This is ultimately the easiest meal I ever make, and all of my kids like it - a lot.

German Rice

Cooked Rice (I usually make 3 cups)
1/2 lb ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
1/8 tsp season salt

Brown the meat, then drain it.  Put it back in the pan and add soup, water and season salt.  Heat soup thoroughly.  Serve over rice.  E A S Y.

Turkey Sausage Soup

This one is from my sis in law Julia.  I have learned some easy recipes from her that have become staples at our house.  This is definitely one of them.

Turkey Sausage Soup

1 link of Turkey Sausage (the Kelibasa type)
1 can bean with bacon soup
3 cups water
2-3 potatos, peeled and cubed
1 -2 carrots, sliced
1/2 cup of corn (either canned or frozen)
Any other veggies of your liking (I really like to add cabbage or zucchini)

Cut up your veggies and put them in a pot with the 3 cups water.  Boil for 10 minutes.  While the veggies are boiling, cut up your sausage.  I cut my pieces small.  The smaller, the farther it will go.  After the 10 minutes of boiling, add the bean with bacon soup and the sausage to the pot.  You may want to add another cup of water - just depends on how soupy you want it to be.  This is YUMMY.  So flavorful.  If my hubby is home to eat this, he prefers it over rice (that is a common theme at our house).  My little girls love it just as soup, with a piece of toast to dip in it.

Pasta Primavera

My family has made this for so many years.  It is one of my favorite meals of all time.  My hubby will eat it if I put chunked chicken breast in it.

Pasta Primavera

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water or milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 pepper
1/2 cup broccoli, cut small
1/2 cup cawliflower, cut small
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 carrot, chopped

Mix the soup, water or milk and spices well in pan.  Add the veggies, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the veggies are just a little soft.  Not completely soft.  Serve over spaghetti noodles.  Add grilled chicken breast if you need a little protein.

Easy Beef Stew

Many of my favorite Easy Meals I have gotten from my mother in law.  She just knows how to cook well, and fast.  That's what happens when you have 5 boys!

Easy Beef Stew

1 lb beef stew meat
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
2 cups water
3 potatos, cubed
2 - 3 carrots, sliced
3 bay leaves
optional: 1 packet of onion soup mix

Brown the stew meat in the onion soup mix, or I even just brown it in salt with chopped onions, or just plain old onion salt.  (that's the easy part - use whatever you have that day!) Pour in the spaghetti sauce and water, then simmer for 20 minutes.  Add your potatos, carrots and bay leaves and simmer another 20 minutes, or until the potatos are soft.  You can let this sit on low on your stove top all afternoon or evening.  We love to eat it over rice - Hawaiian style.  (more hawaiian style, put a little bit of hot sauce on top.)  p.s. make sure you don't eat the bay leaves.  Yuk.