A Muse in My Kitchen
Tex Mex Casserole
He won’t stop talking about it. I made this casserole several days ago and everyday since then – he still tells me how much he loved this casserole! Granted Hubby is a casserole lover but I’ve never heard him rant about it like this.
I sent leftovers to his parents’ house and now they are ranting about it.
Geez!
How can something so simple be so lauded?
I bought a new cookbook last week after reading some of the recipes on a blog and knew I had to have it! It’s called Pasta Revolution by America’s Test Kitchen. It offers a fresh new spin on pasta recipes with tidbits on making perfect pastas along with casserole recipes and lighter options. It also includes America’s Test Kitchen’s recommendations for products like beans, bottled sauce and whole wheat pasta. It was fun browsing through the pages and I have many of them earmarked to make in the next few weeks.
This recipe is one of their ‘skillet baked’ recipes where you cook and mix everything in a skillet and then put it in the oven to top it off.
Simple ingredients – simple technique…
Sometimes you don’t have to make things harder than they are…this is one of those recipes. It reminds me of the old Johnny Mac that my Mom used to make…only this one has a little kick to it. Your family will talk about it for days!
What I was making a year ago – JAMMY YAMMIES!
- 1 tbs. vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped fine
- 1 green pepper, seeded and cut in ½ inch pieces
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp. chile powder
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 lb. 90 percent lean ground beef
- 2 cups water
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 8 oz. whole wheat elbow macaroni (2 cups)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
- 1 (4.5 oz.) chopped green chiles
- 8 oz. (2 cups) shredded Mexican cheese (I use the 2 percent version)
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
- Place oven rack in the middle of the oven and pre-heat to 475 degrees.
- Heat oil in a 12 inch oven proof skillet pan (non-stick is best) over medium heat.
- Add onion and pepper and cook until softened – 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, chili powder and cayenne and cook until fragrant – about 30 seconds.
- Stir in beef, breaking up with wooden spoon and cook until no longer pink – about 2 minutes.
- Stir in water, tomato sauce and pasta.
- Cover, increase heat to medium high and cook at a vigorous simmer – stirring often until pasta is al dente – about 9 – 12 minutes.
- Off heat, stir in corn, chiles and 1 cup of cheese.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese evenly over top.
- Place skillet in oven and bake until cheese has melted – 10-15 minutes.
- Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
