Tex Mex Shells And Cheese Food

TACO SHELLS AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Stir in the diced tomatoes and chiles, hot water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes, then remove to a bowl (it will still be a little juicy).
• In the same pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the milk and cook until hot and bubbling. Add the processed cheese and cook, stirring, until melted. Do the same with the Cheddar jack. Pour in the cooked pasta, add the taco meat and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, thinning with a splash of milk if needed. Stir in the cilantro.
• Top each serving with some sour cream and salsa if desired.

TEX MEX SHELLS 'N CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare shells & cheese according to directions on box.
• While waiting for the shells to boil, dice bacon, onion, and peppers. Place them in a skillet and saute till bacon is fully cooked.
• Once shells & cheese are prepared, combine bacon mixture and shells & cheese making sure to stir well. Let sit for a couple of minutes to let flavor marinate together, then serve and enjoy.

HARD-SHELL TEX-MEX TACO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat; add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the cayenne, chile powder, cumin and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar and cook until the sauce reduces slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the tacos in this order: cheese on the bottom, followed by the beef, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce and jalapenos. Serve the sour cream on the taco or on the side for dipping.

MEXICAN STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely.
• While the ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on baking sheet so that they don't stick together.
• Pour salsa on bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture placing shells in dish open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips; bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with green onions and serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.