Tori's Tasty Tuesdays - Tortilla Beef Bake

This is something that we've had many times (including tonight!) - it's easy and delicious!





Ingredients:
1-1/2 pounds ground beef

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

2-1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips, divided

1 jar (16 ounces) salsa

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in soup. Sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of the tortilla chips in a greased shallow 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Top with beef mixture, salsa and cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with the remaining chips. Bake 3 minutes longer or until chips are lightly toasted.

See how easy that is? :-)

Hockey pics....

Here are a few photos from last night's hockey game! Before the game, we went out for pizza with all of my dad's family, so I snapped a few photos there too. Hope you have fun looking at them!

::Nikki and Aunt Delaine at the restaurant::

::Me and my dad::

::My cousin, Brian, and his fiance, Lindsay::

::Uncle Darwin and mom::

::Grandma and Grandpa::

::Me, Deanna, and Aunt Carolyn::

::Nikki with a stuffed bear that she won in the claw machine::

::Uncle Bob and Aunt Delaine at the game::

::Nikki with one of her favorite hockey players::

::Nikki with another favorite player::

Wii....

After our hockey game last night, our Pastor and his family invited us over to his house and we had fun playing with their Wii! I found out that I'm not as bad at bull riding as I would have thought! :)

::Faceoff at the hockey game...sorry it's a little blurry - my camera doesn't catch movement real well::

::Me and our pastor's daughter, Ashley, Wiiing::

::Nikki and our pastor's son, Drew, in a heated game::

::Notice how much calmer Drew is than Nikki?? She gets really excited::

::Ashley::

Tori's Tasty Tuesdays - Cinnamon Rolls

After my last post about baking, I thought it would be fun to let you in on some of the recipes our family enjoys using. So, I am introducing something new: I came up with the name Tori's Tasty Tuesdays (clever, right?) and will be posting a new recipe every Tuesday.

The recipes will range from main courses to side dishes to desserts - if you enjoy cooking, this is something you will not want to miss! Due to schedule conflicts, though, I may not be able to get a new one posted every Tuesday. :) Now, to be perfectly honest, I have to confess that I am not the cook in the family - Deanna is. She loves to cook, so most of these recipes come from her recipe box and she's the one who usually makes them! :)

This week's dish are delicious cinnamon rolls that Deanna made last week:

Ingredients:

1 package of yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. melted shortening

3/4 tsp. salt

3 eggs

1/2 c. sugar

4 cups flour

melted butter

cinnamon/sugar

Directions:

1 pkg yeast dissolved in 1 cup warm water. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and let stand 10 minutes. Add: 1/2 c. melted shortening and 3/4 tsp. salt. Beat 3 eggs lightly and add 1/2 c. sugar and beat again. Add to above mixture. Beat in 4 cups flour. Let stand until doubled.

Brush with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Roll dough up and cut in 1 inch pieces. Let rise until light. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Spread powder sugar glaze when warm (powder sugar and milk)

The finished product!

How true....

Holiday baking...

I hope your Valentine's Day was as enjoyable as mine! :) We had a lovely day doing school, baking cookies, and watching a movie. We got MORE snow - ugh! I'm getting a little tired of that.....but anyways, here are some pictures of the official cookie makers! :D

::Dad and Mom were so sweet and got each of us girls a little bear and chocolate for Valentine's Day! How sweet!::

::Mom and Nikki with the finished product!::

::The three hardworking chefs::

::I was trying to get creative here....::

::I was the official picture taker/assistant froster...I realized after I downloaded all the pictures that I wasn't in any! So Mom graciously asked if I would like her to take a picture of me with the cookies! [smile]::

Happy Valentine's Day!

Random photos....

A few pics from last night's hockey game:

::Nikki doing the YMCA with another girl::

::We tried to get a good picture....::

::And tried.....::

::And finally got one!::

::Dad and Deanna::

Happy 18th Birthday, Deanna!

Eighteen years ago today, my big sister, Deanna, was born! She has been such a wonderful big sister all these years - she is a great encourager, helper, shopping mate, and she loves the Lord - what better big sister can you ask for?? :) She has always been there for me, ready to encourage and help me. I'm proud to call her my big sis - happy 18th birthday, Deanna! I look forward to watching you continue to grow in the Lord and seek His will and direction for your life! Love ya! :) Here are a few pics from our day thus far:

::Deanna and I with 18 beautiful carnations - all dressed up, ready for church!::

::Mom and Deanna::

::Big sis and little sis::

::Father and daughter::

::Deanna enjoying her enchilada at a Mexican restaurant after church::

::More pics with the birthday girl - she had a graduation theme - doesn't she look swell in that cap?::

::Deanna and Nikki at the restaurant::

::Awwww.......::

::The soon-to-be graduate with her birthday diploma::

::Random picture of the wrapping paper::

::Deanna with her carrot cake::

::This is kind of a strange picture - I know it looks like she's about to choke herself, but she's really just blowing out her candles!::

::Modeling a new outfit::

Facts about Deanna:

• If you would ask her what her favorite food are, she would say: scalloped corn, broccoli and cheese, and Chinese.
• She enjoys mowing the lawn.....is it just me or does that strike you as odd?
• She enjoys ping-pong
• Her two favorite movies are State Fair and The Princess Diaries 1 & 2.
• She loves to cook!
• Started piano lessons when she was four
• Hasn't drank any pop since October of 2007
• Once made it to a state piano competition

Please join us in wishing her a happy 18th birthday! Love you, Deanna! :)