Sloppy Joe Nachos

I'm not a huge fan of traditional Sloppy Joe's, but they are good enough that I'll make them every once in a while. My recipe - which I got from my grandma - makes a ton of the meat mixture, more than my little family can eat. One day, I just did not want to put that meat on a bun and force it into my mouth, but I didn't want to waste it either. My eyes landed on a can of nacho cheese, and the most delicious Sloppy Joe leftovers was born. In fact, it's so good that I now skip the bun entirely and my family eats Sloppy Joe's in nacho form!

Sloppy Joe Nachos

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. hamburger
8 oz. can tomato sauce
ketchup
mustard
Worcestershire sauce
BBQ sauce
Tortilla Chips (I like Juanita's brand)
Nacho Cheese (I like Rico's brand)
Sour Cream
Any other favorite nacho toppings

Instructions:

1. Brown hamburger, drain.
2. Add tomato sauce, to hamburger. Squirt ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce into hamburger. Mix all together. Cook on medium until bubbly.
3. Meanwhile warm up the nacho cheese in a separate sauce pan.
4. Layer chips, meat mixture, cheese, sour cream, and other desired toppings. Enjoy!

Estimated calories: 850 calories per serving (estimated from using 1/6th of the meat mixture)
Suggested sides: fruit salad

Glorious Mess (Taco Salad)

This dish is basically taco salad on top of Fritos chips. I got it from my mom, but I'm not sure where she got it. I have speculated about the title a little bit. I think it sounds like a delicious mistake. Like maybe someone messed up something else and got this as a result and called it a "glorious mess" - don't quote me on that, I don't actually know. LOL.

Glorious Mess

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. hamburger
1 can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tomato sauce
squirt ketchup
squirt mustard
Fritos
lettuce, shredded
cheese, grated
onions, chopped
tomatoes, chopped
olives, sliced

Instructions:

1. Brown hamburger, remove excess liquid.
2. Add beans, soup, tomato sauce, ketchup, and mustard; cook until bubbly.
3. Serve over Fritos, top with remaining ingredients.

Estimated Calories: 748 per serving (servings size about 1/6th of meat mixture with chips and toppings)
Suggested sides: I actually don't serve anything with this, it usually fills us up all on its own!

Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes

One night I didn't want to make what I was planning on making. I looked at what else I had: frozen meatballs, potatoes, and a packet of gravy. I thought, "that sounds warm and comforting." It's fast, easy, and delicious. Perfect for those nights where you don't want to spend a lot of energy in the kitchen.

Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

1 package of frozen meatballs (I like Great Value Homestyle)
4 cups beef bouillon
Potatoes (roughly 1 per person)
1 package Brown Gravy

Instructions:

1. Peel and chop potatoes, place them in a pot with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare beef bouillon according to package directions, add meatballs. Boil until warmed and soft.
3.When potatoes are done add 1/2 Tbsp of butter per potato and pour a little bit of milk. Mash with a potato masher.
4. Prepare gravy according to package directions.
5. Serve all together.

Estimated calories (4 meatballs): 308 calories
Suggested sides: cooked vegetables, fruit salad

Tater Tot Casserole

I actually don't know the true origins of this recipe. I just know that I got it from my mom and it is delicious. It's not gourmet or anything fancy. It's a casserole. Comfort food. Good for beginner cooks or if you need something quick.

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. hamburger, browned and drained.
chopped onions (or dehydrated onions sprinkled onto the meat)
1 can cream of mushroom soup + 1 can of milk (fill empty soup can with milk)
2 cans french cut green beans, drained
Tater tots (about 10 per person)

Instructions:

1. Brown hamburger and onions, drain.
2. Mix meat, onions, soup, milk, and green beans in a 9x13 glass pan.
3. Top with tater tots or cook them separately (I prefer to cook them separately)
4. Bake in the oven at 350° for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbly. (I usually go 30 minutes in my oven.)

Estimated Calories: 345 per serving (about 1/8th of the pan)

Suggested sides: Fruit salad