Soft Taco Casserole

I must say that next to Maryland seafood, Mexican grub is my favorite. Give me some chips & salsa, a messy burrito and a margarita to wash it all down and I'm a happy lady. I make Mexican food every year on Cinco de Mayo and tried this recipe the other night. It is pretty basic and to be honest, I wasn't expecting it to be very good. But, Rob and I agreed, it's a keeper! Even Ellie kept asking for "ah-bite?"

I used all lower-fat ingredients and it turned out perfect.

-1 pound ground beef

-6 flour tortillas (medium sized - I used Mission low-carb)

-1 medium onion, chopped

-2 cups salsa

-1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

-1 cup sour cream

-2 cups taco-flavored cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown ground beef with the onion, drain. Mix together with black beans, taco seasoning and salsa. Stir in sour cream. Spray the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan with cooking spray. Line with 3 tortillas. Top with half of the beef mixture and half the cheese. Repeat. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve as is, or top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped cilantro, hot sauce and extra sour cream.

Black Bean & Corn Salsa

A few years ago, my friend Abby brought this into the Governor's office with tortilla chips and I've been making it every spring/summer since. Hallie makes a similar version and serves it as a side dish. It is also great on top of grilled chicken or fish. Really, you could put whatever vegetables you like in it. It's a lot of chopping, but very worth it in the end. This salsa is also always better the second day.

-1 can of yellow corn, drained (I guess you could use frozen)

-1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

-1 red pepper, diced fine

-1 orange pepper, diced fine

-2 or 3 jalapenos, diced fine (leave the seeds if you want some heat)

-1 small red onion, diced fine

-1 pkg cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters or halves

-1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

-juice of 1 or 2 limes

-salt and pepper to taste

Dice everything and combine in a large bowl. Chill and serve. This feeds and army! I have also started zesting the limes and adding that as well. YUM!