Sometimes you just want a simple, easy dinner. And, it's hard to go wrong with something tasty like tacos. Rethinking the taco, the kitchens at Full Moon Cuisine came up with a great, inexpensive way to feed a family, some friends, or just to make a dinner that can last for a few nights. Here's what you'll need:

- 1.25 pounds of ground beef
- 1.5 tbsp taco seasoning (recipe follows)
- 12 hard taco shells
- 1 8oz can of tomato sauce
- 8 oz cheese (I used a store bought mixture of Quesadilla, Asadero, Gallego, Manchego, & Anejo Enchilado)

To begin, brown off the ground beef in an electric skillet, using a wooden spoon to break it up into small crumbles. Once the meat has been browned, sprinkle on the taco seasoning mix. You can use a store-bought packet, or you can make your own. Here's what I use:

- 1/4 cup dried minced onion
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 3 tablespoons salt
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin (for that great, smoky flavor)
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

Kept in a dry, air-tight container, this mix will keep for quite a while, letting you get multiple uses out of one batch!

Once the seasoning has been combined with the beef, pour in the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer for a minute or so. Next, take a 13x9x2 baking dish (I use a glass dish, as seen in the picture) and break up half of the taco shells on the bottom. Then, spoon the meat mixture onto the layer of crushed shells. Take half of your cheese and sprinkle it over the beef, then crush up and sprinkle the remainder of your taco shells over the cheese. Finally, pour the remainder of the cheese over the top and place in a 350 F oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling. Take out of the oven and let it stand for a few minutes to help set up, then serve.

You could garnish this with whatever you like to add to your tacos: a dollop of sour cream, some of your favorite salsa, some guacamole perhaps, or even just shredded lettuce, and more cheese. All in all, this '30-minute meal' is inexpensive, quick, and a tasty crowd-pleaser. Whether you're making it for a fiesta with friends, a dinner for the family, or you just want to cook one night and have dinner for three nights, Taco Casserole is a guaranteed hit.

Care to place an order?