Layered Taco Dip

I honestly don't know where I got this recipe, but every time I make it, it disappears in no time flat. I seem to vaguely remember going through my sister Maureen's recipe cards when I first moved into my own apartment about a million years ago (just because I wanted to build a recipe collection). Maybe that's where I got it. Hmmm, I'm not sure. Hey, Reen, does this recipe look familiar to you?

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
1 (8oz) container cottage cheese
2 heaping tbs sour cream
1 packet taco seasoning
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
3 green onions, chopped
1 large green pepper, seeded and diced
8oz shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and half the taco seasoning. Spread in a 9x13 pan or serving plate. Stir together diced vegetables and spread over cream mixture. Sprinkle with half of remaining taco seasoning. Top with shredded cheese. Sprinkle with remaining taco seasoning.
Serve with tortilla chips.

Tips:
I like this recipe more than the usual seven layer dip because the cream mixture is really yummy, and I like the crunchy addition of the diced bell peppers. Still, you could add a layer of bean dip and a layer of guacamole and you'd have a seven layer dip. You could also make it a little more hearty by starting with a layer of ground beef, browned, drained, and spiced up with some of the taco seasoning.
To save time, use a jar of salsa instead of chopping the tomatoes. To add color, use yellow or orange peppers in addition to the green. Diced black olives would be a nice addition and also chopped jalapenos if you'd like to add some heat.

Melexican Taco Casserole

My fabulous friend, Melissa, asked me if I would teach her how to cook, and of course, I said yes. One night we were bouncing culinary ideas back and forth and we eventually came up with this recipe. It's SO easy and delicious, just like Miss Melissa. You should try it!



2 lbs. ground beef
1 onion, diced
tiny bit of butter or oil for saute pan
1 large can Manwich sauce
1 small can Mexicorn
1 packet taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
shredded cheddar cheese
shredded mozzarella cheese
tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large skillet, saute diced onion in butter or oil over medium heat until softened. Add ground beef and break it up using wooden spoon. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, sour cream and half of taco seasoning packet. set aside. When beef is completely browned, drain off the fat. Add the other half of the taco seasoning packet, Mexicorn and Manwich sauce. stir together making sure there are no browned bits on the bottom of the skillet.

Butter a 9x13x2 glass casserole dish on the bottom and up the sides. Crush a few handfuls of tortilla chips and place them in an even layer covering bottom of casserole dish. Cover chips with half of beef mixture, spreading to the sides forming an even layer. Do the same thing with half of the sour cream mixture, then half of the cheddar cheese and then half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat all layers using all remaining ingredients. Place in oven and bake about 30 minutes or until bubbly. Let it stand for about 10 minutes allowing it to set up making it easier to cut into squares as one would do with a lasagna. Serve with additional sour cream, taco sauce and salsa. For added crunch, top with additional crushed tortilla chips.