Cowboy Casserole- Delicious under $5

So we all know that things are better Quick, Cheap & Easy!

& This, Cowboy Casserole, is just that.

I'm now feeding 2 growing boys, one of whom is taller than me (5'7"!) at the ripe old age of 12, it's like feeding an army........& we need enough leftovers for at least one lunch.

For Under $5 you say? Yes.

ALDI

Aldi is my secret for feeding a male heavy family of 5.

If your grocery budget does not run to the Gourmet-

If you want want quality, affordable food-

If you need to feed bottomless pits-

  

Aldi!!

This is warm, & filling 

& I find that it stimulates dinner table conversation

(Cowboys! Native Americans! Hardship! Gun Battles! Oh, my!)

Cowboy Casserole

56 oz canned baked beans, any flavor (2 big cans, or 4 small cans) 

1 box Jiffy corn bread mix

2 eggs

Honey

Spread undrained beans into a 11x13 casserole

Mix jiffy with eggs & good squeeze of honey. Add either the called for milk, or go dairy free & add same measure of water. Mix well.

Spread over beans.

Bake at 415 for about 45 minutes, or until corn bread is set.

That's it. Quick, Cheap & Easy!

ps- you can certainly make your own baked beans, & cornbread from scratch. Absolutely, & for possibly cheaper!

pps- I do not recommend going to any Grocery the weekend before thanksgiving without a big dose of patience & possibly a spiked coffee.  

Tres Amigos Enchiladas

Let's all take a minute to thank our lovely South-of-the-border friends, who were kind enough to bring us delicious foods, featuring melted cheese & spicy peppers.

..........................................................

When I was in college, I mostly survived on alcohol, of any kind, + black bean & corn salsa by the gallon, with tortilla chips,

 though drinking it would not have been below me......

Black beans & corn are magical together, the Romeo & Juliet of Mexico, but no one dies.

So, why Tres? 

It's the cheese. It's always the cheese. 

the Cheese had me at Hello.

These are seriously so yummy, they can be my amigos for life.

*Disclaimer* I am not a good cook, & most everything I make, sort of looks like a congealed pile of vomit,  this being no exception, but it is based around refried beans, cream cheese & corn......

There will be no tastefully staged photos, so use your imagination.

Also- the great thing about Taco Tuesday (or Thursday) foods, is that they offer a wide array of variations. Make your own tortillas, or use dried beans. Have fresh corn, use fresh corn. I don't know how to make cream cheese, but if you do, have at it. Like onions, or extra spicy,  go for it.

If, on the other hand you are a tired adult, needing to, once again feed the little people in your life, feel free to use frozen or shelf-stable stuff. Whatever.

Stuff 

2c refried beans

    2c corn                 

              2c black beans                 

       1 block cream cheese

     16 Corn Tortillas     

     4c Shredded Cheese

          5-ish c Enchilada sauce

Gently fold the first 4 ingredients together.

Line the bottom of your baking dish with a drizzle of Enchilada sauce.

Smear a wad of beans into a tortilla, fold, placing seam side down in dish. repeat, trying to get more into the tortilla than you do on your fingers.

When the dish is full & the bowl is, hopefully, empty, 

pour over the sauce, trying to spread it evenly.

I always put glass dishes into a cold oven, 

because lets face it, pre-heating is a myth & waste of energy, 

& a cold dish in a hot oven, in my experience, means I will be picking bits of glass from an exploded pan out of my food.

So, when your cold dish is in your cold oven, set it to 350, 

to bake, for about 35 minutes.

Turn the oven off (it's still hot enough),

& toss the cheese on, leaving it in the oven until melty.

This dish will feed the Army, with leftovers.

Quick, Cheap & Easy, just the way we like it!