I got a great deal on the 97% lean ground beef today and knowing that my DH will be home next week making meals I like the idea of putting something in the freezer for him. I will be having a minor surgery and he will be a stay at home dad for a week. I do not want him to die of a heart attack having to do everything I do so I am helping him out with some meals. LOL.. So here is what is on the Menu.
Spaghetti Sauce Sandwiches with salad (this is tonights dinner)
Tacos with salsa rice (tomorrow)
Baked Macaroni Beef (freezer meal for next week)
I did all the prep work in 20 minutes. I made the rice after I cleared the rest of the stove top because I only have one skillet right now. I had to retire the cast iron when we got the glass cook top. I am holding out until I find a great deal on a new stainless one. So this is the reason you see the rice separately, another reason I added the 10 minutes to the title is for rice cook time.
So first I pulled out all the pots, pans and ingredients.
2 Skillets and a pot for cooking the macaroni
9x13 baking dish ( I started with 8x8 but it was just to much for it you could made two 8x8 pans)
Mixing bowl
Storage bowls or zip loc bags for storing food.
2.5 lbs of Ground Beef if you are big eaters use a 3 lbs so you get more taco and sandwich meat.
2 Cans Spaghetti Sauce
Macaroni Pasta
Taco Seasoning
Dehydrated Onions
Frozen Bell Peppers
Mozzarella Cheese
Oil
Rice
Salsa
Chicken Bullion
I think that is it...
While it is heating put about 1 1/2 to 2 Cups Cheese in mixing bowl and sprinkle with dehydrated onions and italian seasoning. (this is a to taste seasoning)
Now pour 2.5 C of white rice into the skillet and brown it like your making rice a roni, just until it turns tan. As I am browning the rice I turn it down to medium heat and put 5.5 C warm water in a bowl add 1.5 Cups Salsa and 2 bullion cubes. Once the rice is browned I add the water salsa mixture and it will bubble and steam. Give it a stir and cover it turning it down to simmer. Set your timer for 10 minutes. Now it is time to start the meat and pasta. 
The water should be boiling so add your pasta, start a skillet and add the ground beef and bell peppers. The bell peppers are to taste and really stretch the meat mixture. 
Drain the meat and return to the stove
Add taco seasoning and water to your zip loc or storage bowl and then add 6 scoops of meat to the container and mix with the taco seasoning. I find this is plenty for 8 tacos, 2 each for a family of four. Your taco meat is done. 
Add one can of spaghetti sauce to the meat mixture it should be thick and meaty not saucy, kind of like a thick chili. Turn off heat under the meat sauce and, take out 4 scoops into your storage container, draining off extra liquid from the spoon. This is your sandwich filling. This will easily make 4 sandwiches and up to 6 depending on the size. 
Pour remaining sauce mix into the mixing bowl with cheese and seasoning. Drain pasta well, give it a few shakes and let it drain some more. Stir it all together with the sauce and cheese then add a second can of sauce to make it like a thick gooey chili, then transfer to a 9x13 pan or two 8x8 pans.
Top the casserole with cheese and this is what you have so far.
Your 10 minute timer is probably going off. Give the rice one stir put the lid back on and set the timer for another 10 minutes. When the timer goes off turn the heat off give a stir and allow to sit for another 5 minutes.
You can freeze any of these!
This is a large amount of rice. I usually freeze half of it for another meal. It is great to use for a base under creamy chicken enchilada casserole. I will blog this recipe soon using my frozen rice.
Serving your meals:
Spaghetti Sauce Sandwiches; serve on french bread scoop filling onto bread and top with provolone cheese bake to melt the cheese, this will help hold the filling in the sandwich top with peppers and onions if you like. Serve with a crisp green salad.
Tacos and salsa rice; fry up some shells, grate some cheese and shred some lettuce. Top with taco sauce. The rice and taco meat can be heated in the microwave. This is a quick meal if you use soft or pre cooked shells.
Macaroni Beef; serve with garlic bread and salad.
For the left over rice use any creamy chicken enchilada recipe and put the enchiladas over the rice with extra sauce to cook down into the rice giving you a nice creamy rice base.
Hope you enjoy your 3 meals in 30 minutes. For my hectic schedule this multi task cooking is a life saver!
Next week I will cook a whole chicken and use the left over chicken for the enchiladas.
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