Friday Friend Recipe #102--Tacos in Pasta Shells

Recipe number 102

Come with me as I continue to countdown my Friday Friend Cookbook
What is it, you may ask?

In a nutshell...
About 15 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different categories and we compiled a cookbook.
I decided to count those down!
Why?

Because  one night I was looking thru the cookbook and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog"
The Handyman--who thinks he knows me better than I know myself, said,  "you'll never EVER do that."
Well,  maybe I will!  Maybe I'll show him!

Which brings me to recipe #102  My Tacos in Pasta Shells

These are yummy, yummy, Yummy!!

They have all the good stuff in them.  Cheese and pasta and hamburger in a sauce!

I think I make a bit more sauce than it calls for because I like a bit more to lay on top of the shells.

Tacos in Pasta Shells

by me/Debbie Stone

Winnemucca, NV

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 cup favorite salsa

3 oz cream cheese with chives

1 cup tomato sauce

1 T chili powder

1/4 t salt

18 jumbo pasta shells

1 cup shredded cheddar

1 cup shredded jack cheese

1 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips

sliced green onions

sliced black olives

Brown meat; drain. Add salsa, tomato sauce, cream cheese, chili powder, and salt.   Simmer 5 min.  Cook pasta shells till almost done.  Fill  shells with beef mixture and arrange in baking dish.  Spoon any sauce left over shells.

Cover and bake at 350 for 15 min. 

Uncover; top with cheeses and crushed chips. Bake another 15 mins.  

Remove and sprinkle with olives and onions.

Me oh My!

This is my recipe and I hate writing about myself.

Wait!

That's not true-- I do it all the time. BUT usually I write about myself THRU a friend's story--now I have to write a story all about me--and I find it a bit intimidating today.

Also a picture---I have to find a picture of myself that is halfway decent.

Halfway decent....  ???

Why do we do this to ourselves?

We are who we are.

 We need to like ourselves.

I certainly hope that when I die, no one comes to my funeral and says:

"she was always chubby...she had such a round face... nice person, but fat."

Let's face it--they are not!

They are going to miss me and be sad and nobody will care about my little round face. 

 Except to miss it, I mean.

So speaking of that, let me descend backwards and say  "one would THINK I would be in better shape after doing all these runs/walks throughout the years"

I have joined in with the Alzheimer's Walks, the heart walks, the cancer walks, March of Dimes-March for babies walks, the fun runs, and yet---still have that round face!

A few pics of a couple of my walks thru the years:

I don't like to get involved in the political-ness of things (like where all the money goes, etc)  but just want to say that the Susan G. Komen 3-day/60-mile walk the one of the most moving things I have ever done.

Thanksgiving morning--- 2015.  I signed up for 5 adults and 4 kids.  A family team.

Since it was 10 degrees at 7am, only these 2 hardy grandchildren braved the cold and joined in THE TURKEY TROT!  (and the Handyman)

The Handyman DOES look like a Popsicle.  and I have many layers on and the camera adds 10lbs. 

What was I saying above?  Oh---we need to like ourselves.

I do like myself---just not pictures of me. 

The Bay to Breakers in San Francisco--

I've done it 3 times.

I love it---it's so much fun.

My friend Stella and I waiting for the race to begin.

So many sights to see!

Like transvestites or drag queens  or people just dressed up in costume for the race.  (I should know the difference, my apologies to the people)

This was the first time I saw a naked runner too.

I don't have a photo, but he was a true redhead-- I could tell--- just saying.

(there was red hair everywhere)

and for every race/walk/run I have done--always a great support system in place!

Stella's husband, Ken, also waiting for the race to begin.

I can't remember why he has underwear on his head.

And for the 3-day/60-mile walk?

My brother-in-law and his friends  were our support crew.

We were the Random Racks of Kindness and they were the Bras.

So that's my story!  And I'm sticking to it!

Told with a straight face--a little round straight face!