baking ahead - Chili post spin off

PrairieMom wrote: Every year in the fall I bake / cook ahead and freeze like crazy. This year I have done:
More chili than my family can conceivably eat... about 18 meals worth
9 banana bread
144 blue berry muffins
5 taco cassaroles

I still have
cranberry orange muffins
5 meat loaf
about 12 meals worth of spag sauce.

I may make some cookies to freeze too. Man you would almost think I was PG with all this nesting.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I've been doing the same thing!

I made 10 croissant breakfast sandwiches
Taco casserole
Turkey tetrazzini

Ship some of that chili to me so I won't have to make any.

stella6979 replied: Ok, what are these taco casseroles you ladies speak of? Care to share a recipe?

sparkys2boys replied:
Yeah, I wanna know too??

PrairieMom replied:
mine is a 4 layer casserole.
2 cups of cooked rice
1 pound hamburger browned
8 oz tomato sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can refried beans
shredded cheddar

brown the hamburger, drain.
add tomato sauce and seasoning, mix it up.

in a casserole dish layer:

cooked rice
meat mixture
beans
cheese

bake at 350 until heated through about 20 minutes.



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when I freeze it I do everything but bake it. I just cover it with saran wrap and freeze.
then when I am ready for it I just thaw it out and bake. It takes a little longer if it has been frozen, I guess about 40 min or so.

stella6979 replied:
Thanks so much Tara!
Tacos are my absolute favorite food, so I have no doubt I'll love this. And I'm always looking for meals I can freeze.
Thanks again!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: My taco casserole has

8 White corn tortillas cut into quarters
2 lbs ground beef
cream of mushroom
cream of chicken
rotel
garlic
onion
2 cups cheese
ranch style beans

cook the ground beef, onion and garlic and combine with cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, rotel, ranch style beans.

Layer half of corn tortillas on a lightly greased 13x9 pan. Top with half of meat mixture and half of cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese on top.

If you want to freeze it, just cover with foil and freeze. Otherwise just bake on 350 for 30 mins or until bubbly.

stella6979 replied:
Mmmm....that sounds good too! One question though. I am not a mushroom eater at all, so could I use 2 cans cream of chicken or do you think that would be too much chicken flavor?

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
I need to get a move on with the freezing...its my plan to have stuff already made and in the freezer for when we have a new baby at home.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
I substitute cream of chicken because my dh doesnt like mushrooms.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I think the cream of chicken would be fine!

cameragirl21 replied: Feel free to send some over here, Tara, I'm not much into cooking or baking but I love baked goods and tacos, as long as they're vegetarian.

HuskerMom replied: I never thought about freezing! I should do that.

PrairieMom replied:
sorry, we are carnivores.

luvmykids replied: I say I'm going to do that every year