Santa Fe Soup

This morning as I was getting the kids dressed I mentioned I loved chilly weather, it was perfect for soups, gumbos and beef burgundy.  Noah said I want soup!  So I asked what kind...broccoli & cheese, potato, asparagus, chicken noodle, taco soup?  His eyes lit up and he said Taco soup.  So I wrote out my grocery list to make taco....or Santa Fe Soup.  This recipe was passed along by my childhood friend who was like a 2nd little sister to me.  Gosh I miss her and her big sis.  Thanks Lisa dePriest Evans!

Santa Fe Soup
2lbs ground sirloin/beef
1 can rotel
2 cans of corn
2 cans of kidney beans (I omitted these I don't like beans)
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 packet of taco seasoning
32oz Velveeta
(I cut all these ingredients in half for my family.  It makes a lot with the above ingredients and it freezes well too.)

Brown ground beef in a large pot and drain the fat, if you use sirloin, there won't be much fat.  Combine the browned meat with all of the ingredients.  Do not drain the cans, that is what makes the soup.  Chop up your blocks of Velveeta and melt it in the soup.  Cook until the cheese is melted.  Garnish it with crushed tortilla chips, sour cream and guacamole if you would like.  I do!

Noah, Margot and Josh gave this a two thumbs up.  Well Noah gave it one, because he was too busy eating with the other.  Sorry for the bad picture.  Josh was left on photo duty of our dinner time tonight....he used a camera phone.  The kids absolutely think it is hysterical that I photograph them eating now....I'm becoming their Poppy Greg.  It is one of my favorite and easiest soups to make.  Meredith ate a sandwich way before everyone else.  Cheer practice sure can mess up family dinner time.

Mini Meatloafs...a must try!

I like meatloaf, I'm a big fan of red meat though.  I used to make one that took and hour to cook.  I then found this recipe on a site I loved.  Sadly she no longer post there.  So here is Mini meatloafs.  You can find the original recipe by Chris Jordan, here with pictures.  She wraps hers in bacon, I like my bacon fried so opt for just the meatball.

Mini Meatloafs
- A muffin tin
- 1 lb ground meat (I use sirloin)
- 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain, but I often substitute italian if that's what I have)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all the ingredients into a large bowl.  Roll them into small balls and place in an UNGREASED muffin tin.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 mins.  I then broil on high for 3 minutes to make the top well done.


I served these with wild rice and carrots.  I promise your kids will eat them and love them.  Even if they say they won't.  Very kid friendly.


Josh, Meredith, Noah & Margot give this a very enthusiastic two thumbs up!

Homemade Meatballs & Pasketti

As Noah would call it.....It's by far his favorite meal.  It's the one thing I can fix at home and everyone will gobble up without any protest.  It's a really difficult recipe, so hang with me.  By the way I don't make spaghetti sauce from scratch.  I've never found a great recipe that I love.  I'm not a sweet spaghetti sauce kind of girl, I'm more of a tangy/tart girl.  So if you have an easy one that's to die for....or at least very good.  Send it my way. acmaksi@hotmail.com --  Here's my extremely difficult meatballs.

Meatballs & Pasketti (Spaghetti)

1 lb ground sirloin
1 egg
1/2 cup italian breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3 jars/cans of spaghetti sauce (I use Hunts cans garlic & herb - it's my fav)

Pour your 3 cans of spaghetti sauce into a large pot and turn to medium.  Put your egg into large bowl and beat it.  Throw in your ground sirloin, cheese and breadcrumbs.  Mix it well with your hands.  Roll the meat mixture into 1 inch balls and throw them directly into the sauce after you roll each one.  Bring the sacue/meatballs to a boil (it will boil on medium -- watch you don't scorch the meatballs)  Stir often.  After it's boiled for 40 minutes, turn it to low and let it simmer.  I do this for about an hour or so.



I start my meatballs at 3 and we eat about 5:15/5:30.  I simmer them until we eat.  The meatballs will take only about 10 minutes to mix and roll from start to finish.  I serve it over angel hair with green peas.  I have more than enough to freeze for another meal for us all.  Or sometimes we have meatball subs the next night!


My children give this 2 thumbs way up.

I'll never serve just tacos again...Taco Salad!

This fall my oldest, Meredith, is cheering for her elementary school.  She practices two times a week from 5:30-6:30.  Planning and cooking a meal have become extremely difficult with this added to our schedule.  So on Mondays and Wednesdays I'm looking for easy dinners and quick fixes because our dinner time has just moved up to 4:45.  She doesn't get home until 7 and that's way too late for everyone here to eat.  So with our new schedule in mind I did some creative planning.  The kids love tacos, cheap and easy.  I don't.  I don't find it filling and don't get all the "good" toppings since it's just usually me and kids on taco nights.  This week at the grocery though I saw Aztec Taco Salad Shells and it looked yummy so I picked up a pack.  I also grabbed some Wholly Guacamole snack packs (they were the perfect portion for a taco salad topping) and  a container of sour cream.  And I have to say tonight's taco night was a big treat and super easy.  I also made queso with some chips.

Taco Salad
Aztec Taco Salad Shells (they come in packs of 4)
1lb ground sirloin
1 taco seasoning packet
shredded lettuce
sour cream
salsa
shredded cheese
guacamole
tomatoes and black olives (if you children can stand them on the table, mine cannot)

Cook your taco shells and taco meat as directed.  Lay all the fun toppings on the table and let everyone go at it!  Josh, Meredith and I devoured ours.  Noah had 2 soft tacos instead.  Margot ate hers and a pack of guacamole...a girl after her mamma's heart.  Dinner was different, easy and a huge success.  Taco night may be come a weekly thing!

This guacamole is delish Mamma!