SANDRA’S SENSATIONAL SOUTH-OF-THE-BORDER POTATO BAKE

A very hearty one-dish mexican casserole 
you can whip together without a lot of fuss... 
[Featured on 9-23-11 on "Pinterest 
@ http://pinterest.com/pin/192061310/]

Servings: (6)
Prep: 15 Mins. |
Bake 45 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Potato Bake:

1 lb. extra lean ground venison burger, (or moose, or beef)
½ onion, chopped
¼ red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 oz. can) refried beans
2 tablespoons organic taco seasoning
1 teaspoon organic chili powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup (of a 10. oz. can) rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained, and divided (see *Tip below)
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into small ½” cubes
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

***Garnish:

Fresh Homemade Salsa

1 cup Sandra's fresh salsa (Shown in photo to the left, and link to the recipe.)
6 teaspoons sour cream
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9”x9” casserole dish with oil, and set aside.

Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat, and brown the burger until 3/4s the way done.  Add the onions, bell pepper, and garlic, and saute until the onions are translucent.  Add the refried beans, organic taco seasoning, organic chili powder, sea salt, ground pepper, and rotel; stirring until warmed through and refried beans are soft and incorporated; remove from heat.

Meanwhile, place the small cubed potatoes into the casserole dish in an even layer.

Spoon the meat/refried bean mixture atop of potatoes; smoothing to an even layer.

Hot out of the oven

Cover with lid (or foil), and bake for 35 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped cilantro, and cheese over top, and return to oven to bake for a final 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Top each serving equally with Sandra's fresh salsa, dollops of sour cream, and freshly chopped cilantro. – Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 *Tip – I add the remaining rotel by draining it, and then folding it into the fresh salsa!

SANDRA'S MOOSE BURGER SPANISH BROWN RICE

This is one hearty meal ~ 
What I consider comfort food...

Servings: (10 as a side, or 6 as an entree)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook 15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 strips of bacon
1 lb. lean ground burger, (I used venison)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
2 green onions, sliced
1 rib of celery, diced
¼ cup of frozen corn, thawed
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
½ of a (10.5 oz. can) of rotel with tomatoes and chilies, drained
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon worcestershire
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 cups of cooked brown rice
kosher salt and ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium heat, and brown the bacon, until crisp. Reserve drippings in skillet, and then set aside bacon on a paper towel-line plate (crumble when cool).

Add the burger to the hot skillet with drippings, and brown. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried cilantro, and stir to combine. Add the celery, and green onions; cooking for 1 minute more. Add the corn, crumbled bacon, tomato sauce, drained rotel, mustard, worcestershire, and sugar, tossing to combine. Add the cooked brown rice and fold until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Taste for seasonings, adding kosher salt and ground pepper, if need be. Cook just until the brown rice is heated through, and serve – Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: You might contemplate using the remaining ½ can of rotel in an omelet -- or making it into a dip by mixing the ½ can of rotel with a ½ cup of sour cream! (Or you can just use the whole can of rotel if you'd like the Spanish Rice spicier ;-)