Enchilada layer

This is quick - easy and delicious served with cous cous, rice or salad - or whatever you fancy! You can also obviously use ready-made enchilada sauce for even more speed!

1 (1.5 ounce) package dry enchilada sauce mix
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, mix the dry enchilada sauce according to package directions, replacing tomato sauce with the tomato paste and water.
(If using ready made enchilada sauce - ignore this step!)

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with garlic salt and onion powder; drain fat.
Mix refried beans and 1/2 cup of the prepared enchilada sauce with the meat.

Dip enough corn tortillas to cover the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish in the remaining enchilada sauce.
Arrange tortillas in the dish.
Spoon in half of the meat mixture, covering the tortillas.
Spread half of the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the meat.
Cover with another layer tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Spoon in remaining meat mixture and top with a final layer of tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the layers and top with remaining cheese.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Caramel Shortbread

I love shortbread and caramel - so both together are just a dream on the tastebuds!
Warning - highly yummy and moreish so you may find difficulty leaving some for others!

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup ground almonds
3/4 cup butter
3/8 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons golden syrup
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
8 (1 ounce) squares high quality milk chocolate
1/3 cup toasted and sliced almonds

Beat 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup sugar until pale.
Add flour and ground almonds to form a soft dough.

Press dough into a 8 inch square pan that has been greased and lined with parchment paper.
Bake shortbread at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Leave in pan until cool.

To Make Topping:
Cook 3/4 cup butter, 3/8 cup sugar, syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan on low heat.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes until it has thickened and has a pale caramel color.

Spread caramel on cooled shortbread, and let set about 40 minutes. Melt chocolate over low heat. Spread melted chocolate on top of caramel and sprinkle on toasted almonds.

Jambalaya Salad

Simple and yummy!

1 1/3 cups water
2/3 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
6 slices bacon
1 (6 ounce) can tiny shrimp, drained
1/2 cup cubed ham
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped fresh tomato

3/4 cup Italian-style salad dressing
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in the rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
While the rice is cooking, place bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until evenly brown. Drain, cool, and crumble.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked rice, crumbled bacon, shrimp, ham, bell pepper, celery, onion, and tomatoes.

Prepare the dressing by whisking together the salad dressing, thyme, chili powder, garlic, and salt. Pour over rice mixture, and toss to coat. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Hamburger Potato Casserole

Quick - easy and kid friendly - simple ingredients in one dish!

1 pound lean ground beef
3 cups peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup milk
salt to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef; drain fat.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, onion, milk, salt and pepper to taste.
Alternately layer the potatoes, soup mixture and meat in a 11x7 inch (2 quart) baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Top with Cheddar cheese, and continue baking until cheese is melted.

Sand cups.......

With the kids off school - this kind of dessert is a great way to keep them involved and have fun at the same time.
This dessert looks like sand - easy for the kids to join in with - decorate with small umbrellas, gummy worms and sharks, crushed peanuts etc.
I recommend serving this in individual cups - though a bucketful is easily gone through too!

• 2 cups milk
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed

In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Beat with a whisk until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes.

Add whipped topping and half of the crushed cookies and fold in.

Place 1 Tablespoon crushed cookies into each cup. Fill cups 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate 1 hour. Decorate before serving.

Watergate Salad......

Creamy and cool and kids love to make this!

INGREDIENTS

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained

In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and pineapple; mix well.
Add marshmallows and 3/4 of the container of dessert topping (add more to get a creamier consistency).
Toss in the coconut; mix well.
Transfer to a serving dish and top with halved cherries and any extra coconut.
Chill for at least an hour before serving. Good the next day.

Stir-fried chicken salad....

Ingredients

1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon bottled chopped garlic
2 teaspoons sugar

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders
1 tablespoon peanut oil
4 cups mixed salad greens
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken to broth mixture, stirring to coat.
Let stand 3 minutes.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Drain chicken, reserving marinade.
Add chicken to the pan; cook 4 minutes or until done, stirring frequently.
Stir in the reserved marinade.
Reduce heat; cook 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat.

Combine greens and basil in a large bowl. Add chicken mixture, tossing to coat.