Taco Bake

So, it's winter and the local grocery stores have ground beef on sale. For the last 2-3 weeks! Move on, we all have enough hamburger! *sigh*

Me being cheap, have had to get creative with the menu because you can only eat so much meatloaf, tacos, and hamburgers. I had a bag of tortilla chips left from the last time we had tacos and I made pico. I certainly had the ground beef. And I always have taco seasoning, sour cream, cheese and onions...hmmm...

I made it without the refried beans because, genius me, I didn't think about them until the casserole was in the oven. If you don't like refried beans, you can use a can of drained black beans or red beans or pinto beans. Or you can just leave the beans out altogether, but they would bulk it up a bit.

Now, as usual, I made enough for an army, but food doesn't last long here. I used a huge 10x14" baking dish. We have leftovers, but not as many as you might think! And they'll be gone by the weekend. If you don't have a houseful of big eaters like I do, you can easily halve the recipe. I don't recommend freezing this because of the tortilla chips, but if you used torn corn tortillas instead, in the one you freeze, it should work...it just won't have the crunch 

If you like it hotter, add some peppers, milder, use canned diced tomatoes rather than the Rotel.

Taco Bake

2 lbs ground beef (80-85% lean)

1 chopped onion

2 cans Rotel, undrained

1 C. sour cream

1 small can sliced black olives, drained

1 packet taco seasoning

1 15 oz can refried beans

3 C. shredded cheddar cheese

1 large bag tortilla chips

Heat oven to 350°.

Cook meat and onions till onions are soft and meat is no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet.

Stir in Rotel, sour cream, taco seasoning, olives, and beans. Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes.

Coarsely crush half the chips into the bottom of a 10x14" baking dish. Spoon half the meat mixture over the chips. Sprinkle half the cheese over the meat. Repeat layers, making sure the cheese is the last layer added.

Bake 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

Granny Square Poncho Pattern

I just finished another granny square poncho and have had several requests for the pattern, so I thought I'd finally get it written up and in my Etsy shop. It's easy but a bit time consuming.

You can buy the pattern here: Granny Square Poncho Pattern.

Alternatively, if you would rather buy the poncho than make it, it's available, custom made, here: Afghansoffthehook, Granny Square Poncho

A warm, chunky scarf for winter

A couple of months ago, I got some super bulky yarn on clearance and have been searching for patterns since. Most call for a 9mm hook and while that's fine for boot cuffs and hats, the scarves and cowls end up too stiff for my taste. I like those to be soft and squishy.
So I came up with my own design. It's mesh-y...lots of holes...but so thick that it's still warm, but the holes keep it pliable.
It takes just over a skein of Lion Brand Hometown, 81 yards each, so...about 100-110 yards.

Super Chunky Mesh Cowl
Pattern designed and written by Rachel Simister

Super chunky yarn, category 6. I used Lion Brand Hometown. This took just over 1 skein, approximately 100-110 yards.
16mm crochet hook
J hook. I used this to weave in the tails and sew the ends as the thick yarn wouldn't fit in any yarn needle!

CH 13.
Row 1 - hdc in 3rd CH from hook, *CH 1, skip next foundation CH, hdc in next CH*. Rep from * to * across.

Row 2 - CH 3, turn. Hdc in first CH 1 space. *CH 1, skip next hdc, hdc in next CH 1 space*. Rep from * to * across, putting last hdc in chain space at the end of the row.

Rows 3-50 - rep row 2.
Cut yarn, leaving a 12" tail. Whip stitch short ends together, weave in ends.

This is a free pattern. You can give it out, but please don't sell it or post it anywhere. You may post a link to it if you like.
Thank you!
10/11/2014

Designing a New Fall Set

I picked up some Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in Winery at Walmart a couple of weeks ago, on clearance, and since I've finished all my custom orders for the moment, I wanted to play with it.
The color is gorgeous. It gives from a deep Burgundy to a purple to a brownish to a pink...and everything in between! Great fallish colors. Because it was on clearance, however, it probably means they're discontinuing the color. Figures.
So, I scoured Ravelry and Google looking for a cowl I liked...and liked for the yarn. As I'm sure all you fiber artists know, not all patterns/ stitches work with all yarns.
Zilch. Nada. Nothing clicked.
I kinda liked this and kinda liked that...but...no. So. I winged it.
I'm not posting any patterns yet, because I want to post everything at once and the fingerless gloves aren't *there* yet, but...here are the pics. And the link to my Facebook page. I don't have any of it in my Etsy shop yet, not till it's done, but...here ya go!
Afghans Off the Hook