My new favorite thing...

I used to just add a bit of taco seasoning to ranch when I would use it for taco salad but I noticed this packet of Spicy Ranch dressing mix a couple weeks ago and decided to give it a try. It is DELICIOUS!!! The other day I decided I was sick of sandwiches, mac n cheese, and frozen burritos for lunches and I wanted something different. I threw together a taco salad using lettuce, tomato, chunks of cheddar cheese, canned, drained black beans, crumbled tortilla chips, and lots of this delicious ranch. It was SOOO yummy!!! We have TONS of canned beans and we seem to always have the other ingredients around so we have had this salad for lunch several times now. Brian, Gracie, and I LoVe it!!! It tastes as good as any salad you might spend a fortune on at a restaurant. It's a fun, easy, cheap treat for those of us who can't afford eating out all the time but want to awefully badly!!! Just thought I'd share in case you were wanting to try something different, too...

7 Layer Quesadillas

I made quesadillas for lunch today and I was trying to jazz them up a bit and just kept adding different elements until it tasted and looked similar to 7 layer dip. DELICIOUS!!!! 

~Butter your tortilla on one side. Place tortilla butter side down in hot pan or on hot griddle. Quickly sprinkle cheddar cheese on half of tortilla. Sprinkle a scattered layer of drained black beans on cheese. Fold the other half of tortilla over to top the other half. Brown and flip over and brown that side.
~Once quesadilla is on the plate cut into wedges and generously spread some ranch dressing that you have added some taco seasoning to over the top. Spoon some salsa over top. Sprinkle with sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, and black olives.

Mexican Cheese Dip

1 two pound block of Velveeta cut into about 1 inch cubes
2-10 oz. cans Rotel Tomatoes (find these by stewed tomatoes at the store)

Melt together in a sauce pan. Serve with tortilla chips. If you don't like spicy stuff go for the mild kind because even the original is a little spicy. The hot is HOT! Good stuff!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

These are so delicious and EASY! One of my visiting teachers gave me this recipe once and it is a staple at our house!

3-4 chicken breasts
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 cup salsa

Put all ingredients in a crock pot and cook it all day.I don't even thaw the meat I just put it in frozen. How easy is that?! Shred chicken with a fork about 30 minutes before serving. Serve with tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream.

These are SOOOO yummy!! I've tried them with pork and with steak as well and they are good that way but my favorite is the chicken. If you throw all the leftover veggies,cheese, warmed up chicken, and some tortilla chips in a bowl it makes a yummy taco salad for lunch or dinner the next day. The meat freezes well also. Easy to double or triple the recipe for a croud. Enjoy!!