Tater Tot Casserole

Tonight I made my dad's tater tot casserole. I don't know as I'll ever be able to make it as good as he did, but I'm trying. He used to make it for our family and the firehouse guys all the time. I'll give you my dad's version and then I'll give you my "healthy" version.

What you'll need for dad's firehouse version:

1lb ground hamburger meat

1 can mushrooms

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 bag (9oz) frozen tater tots

1 small white onion

What you'll need for Abby's "healthy" version:

1lb lean ground turkey

1 can cream of mushroom soup OR 1 can cream of chicken soup

1 bag (9oz) frozen tater tots

1 small white onion

Cooking dad's firehouse version:

*Preheat the oven to 350

*Place the ground hamburger in the bottom of a casserole dish (if you opt to not brown up the meat before hand you're casserole will come out VERY greasy...totally not healthy, but that's how the guys liked it back in the day)

*Slice up the onion and lay on top of hamburger meat

*Spread mushrooms and cream of mushroom soup on top of meat and onion

*Top meat with frozen tater tots (make sure you do NOT thaw the tater tots)

*Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours

*Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Abby's "healthy" version

*Preheat the oven to 350

*Brown lean ground turkey and drain off the drippings

*Spread turkey on bottom of casserole dish

*Slice up onion and place on top of turkey

*Spread cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken soup) on top of meat and onion

*Cover meat with tater tots (make sure you do NOT thaw the tater tots)

*Bake for 1 hour

*Salt and pepper to taste

Sure wish you were here to try my healthy version, dad! Miss you!!

Enjoy!

-AKL

Updated Tuna

Do you ever have a hankering for tuna? I'm talking bumble bee tuna in water from a can hankering? Last night I was trying to figure out what I wanted to make for my Monday lunch....and I wanted tuna. Not plain tuna, but an updated version of tuna. Hear me out....

Updated Tuna:

1 can bumble bee tuna (in water)

1 1/2 T mayo (more or less depending on how you like your tuna)

2 spears of dill pickles

1 small gala apple

Cut up your spears of dill pickles into bite size pieces. Then cut up your small gala apple into bite size pieces. Drain your tuna, add mayo, pickles, and apples and then mix! If you're really adventurous try adding just a little fresh white onion as well.

Personally I like to let mine chill overnight in the fridge, but if you want to eat it right away by all means do!

Great atop Ritz crackers!! There's just something about tuna, pickles and apples that are extra yummy!

Can think of a better way to enjoy Monday lunch at the office.

Enjoy!

-AKL

Taco Meets Pasta

Last night I tried something new, tacos meets pasta. The jury is still out on if I'll make it again. It wasn't bad, it was good, but I don't know...I think tacos are supposed to be on tortilla's not pasta. Anyway, if you want to try it:

Things you'll need:
1 box of Pasta (any kind you want....we switched to whole wheat and really like it)
1 lb of meat (any kind you want...I made it with stew meat, it's what we had on hand)
1 T of olive oil
1 T ground Coriander
1 1/2 T of ground Cumin
1 packet taco seasoning (if you want lots of taco flavor)
4 cloves of garlic
1 onion
1 can of tomato paste
1 can of beer

Here's what you'll do:
Boil 4 qts of water in pot for pasta
Warm 1 T of olive oil in large skillet on medium high heat
Brown up your meat
Add garlic and onion - let onions get a little soft
Add coriander, cumin, and taco seasoning
Add beer and tomato paste

Let ingredients come together and when meat has been thoroughly cooked and pasta is done, mix together.

Wow! That was so easy!

In other news, I'm still going strong with no Starbucks! To be honest I don't even crave it anymore. I can only imagine how much $$ it's saving as well. Jared and I continue to get up, go to work, come home, hang with the dogs, go to bed, and then do it all over again!

I didn't take photos of dinner last night so I'll leave you with a photo of our clean dogs! And yes, that is them sitting in our nephew's car seat. Thank goodness Jake wasn't in it.

Enjoy!
-AKL