Beef Fajitas

I have tried several fajita recipes and this is by far my favorite.  The beef is shredded (a little closer to a carnita) and it comes out so tender and flavorful.  I use the crock pot to do all the work for me, and then put the leftovers in a freezer container so I have a second meal ready to go later in the month.

Ingredients:

1 1/2-2 lbs steak (round, flank, sirloin)         8.09
14-20 oz diced tomatoes
            with green chilies--drained                  1.36
2 oz canned diced jalapeno pepper                   .44
1 envelope fajita seasoning                                .78
1 onion--sliced                                                     .30
1 green pepper--sliced                                       .50
10    12 inch flour tortillas                                2.24
salsa                                                                    3.48
sour cream                                                         1.97
shredded cheddar cheese                                1.96
cilantro                                                                 .74

Directions:  In a crock pot layer the beef, the seasoning, the drained tomatoes, the jalapenos and sliced onions.  Put it on low for about 7 hours, then go run errands, go to work or take the kids to school.  This first step takes less than 1o min!

About 1 hour before meal time shred the beef with a couple of forks, or transfer the meat to a cutting board and slice it with the grain and return it back to the crock pot.  If it seems too wet you can ladle out some extra liquid.  Slice the green peppers and stir them into the crock pot beef mixture.  Close the lid and cook on low for one more hour. 

When you're ready to eat assemble into flour tortillas and top as desired with cheese, sour cream, cilantro and salsa.  I made rice to go along with our meal and my husband likes to put that in his fajita too. 

This meal is very flavorful!  You can leave out the jalapenos for delicate palates and small children.  But the beef comes out soft and tender.  I made two meals for $10.93.  I froze the rest of the meat mixture, the remaining tortilla shells and the shredded cheese. 

I hope you like this meal as much as we do! 

Christie aka Keeza

Black & White Cookies

Here's another cookie recipe that freezes just great.  Then when someone calls and says they want to stop by, you can pop a few in the oven.

Ingredients:

1 butter flavored Crisco stick
1/2 C white sugar
1 1/2 C packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp hot tap water
1/2 tsp salt
1 C semi sweet choc chips
1 C white chocolate chips

Directions:

Cream together shortening and sugars with a mixer.  Beat in eggs, then stir in vanilla.  Dissolve the baking soda in a small bowl with hot water, then add to the cookie batter along with the salt.  Stir in flour with the mixer until well combined.  Stir in both kinds of chocolate chips by hand.  Roll cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Flash freeze for 1-2 hours. 

Once frozen, gently peal up cookie dough balls and place in a zip lock bag.  Freeze until ready to bake. 

When ready to bake place desired number of cookies on a cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees for 11-12 min.  Let cool on the cookie sheet for 5-10 min.  Then serve. 

These are nice and sweet.  =)  A great mix of chocolates for true connoisseurs. 

Enjoy!
Christie aka Keeza

Steak Pies

This is a meal that can go strait from the freezer to the oven.  These little steak pies are very filling and can be ready when you forget to thaw dinner, or just came back from out of town.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil          
1 1/2 lbs steak (whatever is on sale,                 8.76
    I used chuck steak)
1 small onion--chopped                                        .30
1 clove garlic--minced                                          .05
1 C frozen peas                                                      .50
2/3 cup shredded carrot                                      .45
1 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 1/2 C beef broth                                                 .35
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
Steak seasoning to taste
2 boxes ready made pie crust                            4.34
1 egg, beaten                                                           .15

Directions:

Heat oil over med-high heat in a large pan.  Slice the steak thinly across the grain.  This will help make a cheap cut of meat taste more tender.  Add steak slices and steak seasoning to hot pan.  Brown on both sides, remove steak and place on paper towels to drain off excess fat.  Add onion, garlic and carrots to pan and saute 3 min until beginning to soften.  Add flour to pan and mix well to form a roux.  Slowly stir in beef broth.  Once all beef broth has been added, stir in peas and steak and turn off heat.  Allow meat mixture to cool before next step. 

Once the mixture is cool.  Open the pie crusts, roll them out and cut in half. 

Flour your counter top and beat one egg in a small bowl.   Put one large spoonful of steak mixture on half a pie crust moon.  Brush egg on the edges.  

Fold the pie crust over the meat mixture and use a fork to seal the edges.  Brush more egg on the top of your steak pie to help it brown in the oven.

Place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet and place your steak pies on the wax paper careful not to let them touch each other.  Then place the sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours.

Once frozen you can peel up the pies and place them in a gallon zip lock bag or in a large Tupperware container.  When ready to eat, place one pie per person on a cookie sheet and bake 400 degrees for 20-24 min until edges are brown.

If you have any extra steak filling put it in a Tupperware container and freeze it too.  You can eat it over rice for an easy lunch, or you can serve it along side the steak pies to eat with the edges that don't have any filling.  I made 8 pies for $1.86 each, or 4 meals for $3.73 a meal. 

These make a great last minute dinner or Saturday lunch because you do NOT have to thaw them before baking.  Try them as an alternative to TV dinners because you know all the ingredients that went into them.  No surprise additives or fillers! 

Christie aka Keeza