Recipe of the week #2

Last night I tackled my second new recipe of the week. This wasn't a brand new recipe exactly, but Zach and I had never eaten it--I made it a few months ago for our friends Ryan and Ashley when their second baby was born. I remember, just a few months prior, how wonderful it was when friends and family brought a frozen meal for us. It was just one less thing to think about as I tried to rein in my hormones and grab an hour of sleep here or there. So, when Owen came home from the hospital I knew I wanted to send over a casserole of some sort. I Googled easy casserole recipes until I came across one that sounded good. The name, which now escapes me, had the word cheeseburger in it I'm fairly certain. Ryan had already eaten dinner the night I sent the dish over, but because it was still warm and smelled good (and Ryan has a bottomless stomach) he had some anyway and said it was good.

So, I fished the recipe out of the cabinet and made it for us last night! Here are the deets:

Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef
1 onion; chopped
15 oz. tomato sauce
2 tsp. chili powder
1 T. garlic salt
1 cup cheddar cheese; grated
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 cans Pillsbury biscuits

Prep
Brown the ground beef with the onion. Drain oil. Add tomato sauce, garlic sal, and chili powder and bring to simmer. In a separate bowl, mix the shredded cheese (save some for the topping), sour cream, and eggs and then add the mixture to the meat. Bring to simmer again. Press one can of biscuits to the bottom of a 9X13 pan, ungreased. Add the simmering meat mixture on top of the biscuits and then layer the top with the other can. Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes. Top the casserole with some more shredded cheese and bake until it melts.

For the biscuits, I used Grands Jr. flaky layers Butter flavor. I was worried Buttermilk might be too sweet. It was pretty buttery, but if you're like me and grew up eating bread and butter with pretty much every dinner it'll really hit the spot. I also tore each biscuit in half to be able to cover the entire bottom of the casserole dish. While it baked I got all of the dishes done, switched some laundry out, and continued reading Brooke Burke's Naked Mom. I don't think she's the best host on "Dancing with the Stars," but her book is honest and funny and I am using her reflections to think about my own life. So, that's a win.

Zach complimented the meal mid-chew, which I think is a good sign, and we both had heaping platefuls. I think this one's a keeper! It definitely seems kid-friendly, too. If you're not a big onion fan, I'd suggest only browning half of an onion with the meat (there was onion in every bite, but Z and I love spice, so that worked for us.)

Here are a couple of mid-prep photos for your enjoyment.



Step 2

Levi enjoying some pears and wrestlemania with Daddy while Mommy cooks

The finished product!

This one's from last week, but it's my adorable family post-swimming at my brother-in-law's. Awwww!

Levi and I are going to find something fun to do today. I've discovered these last few weeks off work that if I don't leave the house at least once a day with him, I start to go crazy. I need a diversion and some adult intereaction, even if it's only with the grocery bagger, to keep my sanity. Happy wild life!