Easy Dinner: Taco Casserole

I LOVE Mexican Food!  I could eat it 3 or 4 days a week!  And by Mexican Food, I mean good ole TexMex...ya know, tacos, bean burritos, nachos, SALSA.  Our dear friends, Howard & Laura, are just as passionate (if not more) as I am about good TexMex.  So, Howard & Laura...this was inspired by ya'll!

Taco Casserole

1 can fat-free refried beans
1 small can diced green chilis
1 small container lite sour cream
1 lb ground beef
salt
minced onion
minced garlic
1 small pinch crushed red pepper flakes
chili powder
cumin
salsa
grated Fiesta blend cheese
2 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
2/3 c milk
frozen corn
butter

Coat a casserole dish with non-stick spray.  Spread the beans over the bottom.  Spread the chilis over the beans.  Add a layer of sour cream.

Brown ground beef with salt, onion, garlic, pepper flakes, chili powder, & cumin.

Place mixture over sour cream. Add your favorite salsa (as much or as little as you like).  Top with grated cheese.

In a separate bowl, mix cornbread, eggs, milk, & corn.  Pour over top of casserole.  Top with slices of butter to make golden brown.

Bake at 425* for 25 minutes.

You can serve with some of Sam's Guacamole

2 ripe avocados
minced onion
minced garlic
minced jalapeno pepper (or serrano pepper if you want more mild)
diced tomatoes
juice of 1 lime
salt

Put all ingredients in a bowl & mash with a fork until creamy, yet chunky.  To chill or store guacamole, place plastic wrap over the guacamole itself, not just the bowl.  Press down with your hand gently to seal.  This will keep it from going brown for about 24 hours!

Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite songs!  I'll always remember sitting & watching fireworks while this song played.  Each of my sons had their heads on my shoulders (when they were still shorter than me!).  Enjoy & have a great three-day weekend!

Haven't Been to the Grocery Store Dinner

I do love cooking, but I don't love shopping!  So I feel very accomplished when I can make a dinner from what's on hand!

This is one of those Easy, Haven't Been to the Grocery Store, What Can I Throw Together, Surprisingly Tastes Good Dinners!

I got out one of my trusty crockpots & opened the frig, freezer, & pantry.

Sliced, grilled chicken strips
1/2 bottle of Alfredo sauce
Parmesan cheese
Zesty Italian dressing
Frozen peas
Frozen carrots
Can of diced tomatoes
Salt & pepper

I dumped everything in,  & put the crockpot on low for 3 hours.  I served this Italian Chicken Soup topped with some Bruschetta Rounds from the pantry. I also set out a bowl of red & green grapes for munching.

That's one more day I can put off going to the Walmarts!

A Dad's Perspective

After I posted yesterday's article, I was checking out Facebook.  A friend of ours had posted his thoughts on keeping his children (4 teens) pure & safe.  I was very impressed & touched with what this awesome Christian dad had to say.  With Ed Allen's permission, I'm sharing his post today!  Thanks Ed!

With all of the first day of school posts that I have seen and the Miley Cyrus performance, I feel the need to say something "out loud" for my benefit and my family's benefit.

I was in the front room the other night and in run my kids wanting to watch the VMAs ... evidently Justin Timberlake is a big deal (and N'Sync was on) ... I watched patiently for a bit and did not see Miley Cyrus' (she's had a place in our house for years as Hannah Montana and is 1 year older than my oldest) performance. However, I have now heard about it and read about it and have now watched it.

IN MY OPINION: What I just watched Miley Cyrus do is TRASH of the highest magnitude. And I have seen a LOT of trash in my time. This is NOT an opinion on her talent. As a result, I feel the need to say that I want to put the whole world and the "lord" of this world on notice effective immediately ...

YOU CAN NOT HAVE MY BABIES AND I WILL FIGHT YOU UNTIL MY LAST BREATH AND WITH EVERY WEAPON AT MY DISPOSAL AND ON INTO ETERNITY FOR THEIR SOUL!

I feel and mourn for family's that lose children physically but more important to me is that I help my wife and children not lose their spiritual lives and lead our family in that way. I am not perfect, just ask my wife. But, I am horrified by what I just saw.

Take heed Mommy's and Daddy's, the Enemy wants our children and is not overtly breaking down our front doors to access them, but rather sneaking into their lives in their music, their videos and places where day in and day out he can steadily feed them his diet of filth and trash.

And to my children, if I EVER find out about an activity or action that you take part in that is contrary to the Laws of Almighty God, I WILL be pulling you physically, spiritually and (if needed) publicly off of that stage, platform, edifice or whatever other venue in which you find yourself to take you out back and re-deliver whatever lesson needs to be re-addressed.

You will NEVER, EVER NOT be my child and I love you. You will NEVER, EVER be too old, too popular or too cool to have to listen to me as your Daddy. And, as a result you will NEVER, EVER be alone in your fight with the Enemy. I love you too much.

Signed, Your "Extremely Irritated By What I Just Saw" Daddy

NOW!

Okay, so at 49 years old, I'm not that up on all the pop culture going around.  However, I do watch a local morning show that has news, entertainment, cooking, fashion, parenting, etc.  On this show yesterday & today, they showed a clip of a female "entertainer" at an awards show.  She was on stage with a male singer, in her underwear.  The "twerking" she was doing & other moves, were NOT entertainment.  They were vulgar, disgusting, & embarrassing.  I can't imagine how her family felt watching this "performance".

So, Moms, all of this has me thinking even more about what our sons & daughters are being attacked with on a daily basis.  I know a statement has been made in the past that 80% of what's on the internet is porn.  I'm thankful for the other 20%, but we have to fight against that 80% NOW!

We HAVE to teach our daughters that they have value because first of all, they are made in the image of GOD!  They have value because of who they are, their hearts & spirit.  It's NOT about how they dress & can move their bodies!  Impress on them that someday their husband will see all their past photos & videos, & talk to their friends & family.  Do they want to feel pleased about that, or ashamed?  A future husband wants to know that she belongs only to him, her body is for his delight only.  That gift starts now!  The way young ladies choose to dress, they way they carry themselves, the line that's drawn between being friendly & being provocative starts NOW!

I don't have any daughters, but someday (hopefully) I will be blessed with a couple of daughters through marriage.  I pray for these unknown young ladies NOW!  I pray that they are following Christ, drawing closer to God, & learning all they can about how to care for their husband, children, & homes.  I pray that they are keeping themselves pure in thought, speech, & behavior.  I pray that they have lots of friends, male & female, so they can learn how to relate to all.  I pray that they respect themselves, & they respect & value guys who are made in the image of GOD, & they realize that guys aren't to be ridiculed as the enemy or stupid oafs.

We HAVE to teach our sons that they have value because they are made in the image of GOD!  They have value because of who they are, their hearts & spirit.  It's NOT about how much money they have & how tough they are!  Impress on them that someday their wife will see all their past photos & videos, & talk to their friends & family.  Do they want to feel proud about that, or ashamed?  A future wife want to know that he belongs only to her, his body is for her delight only.  That gift starts now!  The way young men choose to dress, the way they conduct themselves, the line between being protective & being intimidating starts NOW!

Someday, my sons will be husbands (hopefully).  I pray for the two of them NOW!  I pray that they are following Christ, drawing closer to God, & learning all they can about how to care for their wife, children, & prepare for a career to provide for their family.  I pray that they are keeping themselves pure in thought, speech, & behavior.  I pray that they have lots of friends, male & female, so they can learn how to relate to all.  I pray that they respect themselves, & they respect & value young ladies who are made in the image of GOD, & they realize that young ladies aren't objects to lust after or ridicule.

Moms, it is time NOW to pray for our sons & daughters!  It is time NOW to pray for our future daughters & sons we'll be blessed with through marriage!

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. making the best use of the TIME, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the LORD is. Ephesians 5:15-17