Easy Cheeseburger Soup

Easy Cheeseburger Soup

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained of excess fat
• ¾ cup onion, diced
• ¾ cup carrots, shredded
• ¾ cup celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups of Velveeta processed cheese cubed or 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. In a large Dutch oven, melt 1 Tbsp butter.
2. Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté until tender. Add basil and parsley and sauté for 30 seconds.
3. Add the chicken broth and potatoes; cover and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
5. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt the remaining butter and add the flour.
6. Cook for 3 minutes or until a bubbly paste forms.
7. Add to the soup and bring back to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cheeses, milk, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese melts.
9. Top with extra shredded cheese before serving.

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
4 oz. cream cheese
12-15 jumbo pasta shells
1 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup monterey jack cheese
1 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips (we omitted)
3 green onions
Sour cream

Directions:
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 ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.

Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes. Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.