Save time during the week by cooking and freezing your ground beef ahead of time for both of these quick, family-friendly dishes.

Sloppy lasagna with veggies & dip

Ingredients:

• 1 lb or 450 g ground beef, extra-lean
• 1 tbsp onion flakes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp hot chili flakes (optional)
• 6 oz or 170 g broad egg noodles
• 1 jar tomato pasta sauce (24 fl oz or 680 mL)
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, light, shredded

Veggies & dip ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise, light
• 1/2 cup sour cream, fat-free or light
• 1/2 tsp garlic and herb seasoning, salt-free
•  1 1/2 lbs or 675 g precut veggies (approx 6 cups celery, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots)

Method:

Preheat oven to 375º F.

Fill a large stove-top pot with water and bring to a boil for pasta.

Brown meat in a large non-stick electric or stove-top fry pan at medium-high until meat is no longer pink. Add onion flakes and spice while meat is browning.

Place pasta in boiling water and stir. Set timer for 5 minutes (or 2 minutes less than package directions).

Meanwhile, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream and spice in a small mixing bowl to make veggie dip. Let stand in fridge. Rinse veggies and arrange on a serving plate.

When timer rings for pasta, rinse pasta in colander and let drain.

Layer ingredients into a large lasagna or cake pan in this order: 1/2 of the fully cooked beef, 1/2 of the cooked pasta, 1/2 pasta sauce and 1/2 cheese. Repeat. Bake uncovered in preheated oven. Set timer for 20 minutes or until top layer of cheese is bubbly.

Serves 6-8. Prep time: 20 minutes. Total time: 30 minutes.

Soft or hard shell tacos with toppings

Meat mixture ingredients:

• 1 lb or 450 g ground beef, extra lean
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp onion flakes
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water

Toppings:

• 1/4 head leaf lettuce
• 4 green onions
• 1/2 cup cilantro (optional)
• 4 Roma tomatoes
• 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, light, shredded
• 1/2 cup sour cream, fat-free or light
• 1/2 cup chunky salsa
• 6 soft flour, multigrain or corn tortillas, 10”
• hard shell tacos (optional)

Method:

Brown ground beef in large non-stick electric or stove-top fry pan at medium high until no longer pink. Add spice, ketchup and water to browned meat. Simmer meat mixture at medium-low. Meat mixture will thicken within 10 minutes.

Rinse lettuce in a salad spinner and spin dry. Chop green onion and cilantro and slice tomatoes. Set out toppings in small serving bowls on dinner table.

Spoon thickened meat mixture into tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Add your favourite toppings. Roll up your tortilla, folding the bottom up to prevent leaking.

Serves 4-6. Prep time: 15 minutes. Total time: 30 minutes.

Courtesy Sandi Richard

www.cookingfortherushed.com

@sandi_richard