Mexican Layered Casserole

My goal for our family meals is to have as many meals at home as possible. We can save the going out to eat for special occasions and being with friends. I have found over 43 years of homekeeping, that if I keep a wide variety of basic ingredients on hand, especially those with long shelf life, I am better able to whip up a meal that is delicious, and nutritious even when tired or rushed by a busy day. This would include rice, a variety of canned beans, canned tomatoes, canned green chilies, salsa, cans of coconut milk (lite), assorted pastas, frozen soup vegetables, corn (frozen or canned), canned green beans. Of course in the summer all of these items are much better fresh. But I do not always have time or energy to go to the Farmer's Market or grocery.

The refrigerated items I keep on hand are: eggs, tortillas, plain yogurt, light sour cream,onions,garlic, green peppers, celery, carrots, green onions, potatoes. I usually keep some cheddar, mozzarella, and/or montery jack cheese on hand.

I always shop for meat in the marked down, quick sale section (monday and tuesdays are good days for this) and freeze it. So I almost always have chicken breast or thighs, stew meat,ground beef, pork chops or fish fillets ready to thaw in the microwave for quick preps.

My most important spices to keep on hand are: salt, black pepper, hot pepper, chili powder, a good curry powder, hungarian paprika, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, sage, and rosemary. Also keep a bottle of soy sauce and boullion cubes (chicken and beef) in the refrigerator.

This saves alot of time and money and is just a matter of being prepared. With a few basic ingredients, you can cook italian, mexican, oriental or American meals by just altering your spices and prep methods.

The following recipe happened one day when I needed a quick meal and these were the ingredients I had on hand. It was quick, tasty and nutrious. And a lot less expensive than going out to eat.

Mexican Layered Casserole

1 pound lean ground beef
2 cups salsa
12 corn tortillas
1 pint lite sour cream
1 small can refried beans
2-3 cups shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
1 small package frozen corn
½ onion , chopped (optional)
1 can chopped green chilies (optional)

1. Lightly spray with Pam a 13x9x2 pan. Begin layers with corn tortillas on the bottom.

2. Add ½ of the refried beans, then ½ of the ground beef.

3. Sprinkle 1/3 of the cheese over this, along with ½ of the corn.

4.Pour 2/3 cup of salsa over layer. Dot the top with ½ the sour cream.

5. Begin another layer with corn tortillas, remainder of beans, remainder of the ground beef, 1/3 of the cheese and remainder of corn.

6. Again pour 2/3 cup of salsa over layer and dot top with remaining sour cream.

7. Cover with another layer of tortillas and then top with remaining salsa and cheese.

(Chopped onion and chopped green chilies may be added to the layers for a spicer mixture.)

8. Bake in oven until heated through and cheese is melted at 350 degrees, approximately 30-40 minutes.


Shopping list:
1 pound ground beef
2 cups salsa
12 corn tortillas
1 pint sour cream
1 small can refried beans
1 small package frozen corn
2-3 cups shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
1 onion (optional)
1 can green chilies(optional)

Gayle Trousdale, 1-16-00