Layers of Comfort Food

A couple days ago while it was rainy and cold outside I wanted to create something warming for dinner to take the chill off. This delicious and easy casserole fit the bill!

I took the original recipe and changed it to make it more flavorful and through this I have learned even more- and have changed a couple more things to end up with the recipe below. This is a great recipe because it is quick, healthy, easy and makes great leftovers. You could even make two and keep one in the freezer for later.

This casserole is also great because you can add ground beef, chicken or substitute black or pinto beans for the meat to make it a vegetarian meal. It is very versatile and delicious! Enjoy!

Tex Mex Tortilla Lasagna:

Makes 6-8 servings

2 cups tomato sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 jalapeno pepper- chopped-(seeds removed)

12 corn tortillas
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 pound ground beef (or 1/2 pound chopped chicken, or 1 can black or pinto beans- drained and rinsed for filling)
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon taco seasoning or Mexican spice mix
1 teaspoon salt

1 can stewed tomatoes
1 bell pepper, sliced into rings
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. Spray a 13x9 casserole pan with non-stick spray- or oil it with olive oil.
2. Combine tomato sauce with spices, salt and jalapeno pepper. Set aside.
3. Heat a pan with olive oil in it. Saute the onions and the beef or chicken in it until thoroughly cooked. Add the taco seasoning and salt towards the end of cooking and mix together. If using beans for a vegetarian dish- add the beans to the pan with the onions and mix them together with the spice and salt.
4. Arrange 6 tortillas in the bottom of the pan, add a little tomato sauce mixture on the top and spread it around.
5. Mix the ricotta cheese, chili powder and garlic powder together. Add this mixture in a layer.
5. Add another layer of 6 tortillas and top with the chicken, beef or beans (your choice). Add remaining sauce and stewed tomatoes. Top with bell pepper rings, cover with a lid or foil and bake for 1 hour.
6. After 1 hour uncover the casserole and sprinkle with cheese. Bake another 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and wait 10 minutes before serving


Enjoy this lovely meal! This photo shows a serving of the lasagna along with one of the pretty napkins my mom sewed for me a couple of years ago to go along with some place mats she made.