Beef Taco Ring

This recipe is super simple but is pretty tasty, in my opinion.  It is a great alternative to simple tacos!  It requires a baking stone so if you don't have one try doing this on a cookie sheet!  Or go out and buy a stone!
My aunt use to always make this and then I found it in a Pampered Chef cookbook!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 package of taco seasoning mix
1 3/4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons water
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 packages of refrigerated crescent rolls, separated into 16 triangles.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cook ground beef in skillet over medium heat 10-12 min. or until no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbles.  Drain.  Stir in taco seasoning mix, 1 1/2 cups of the cheese and water.

2. Scoop filling into desired shape (more on that in step 3) finish shape as directed.  Brush with egg white.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with toppings.  * if you do the circle you can put lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream in the center.

3. Making the ring:
Arrange the 16 triangles, slightly overlapping in a circle on a round stone with wide ends 4 inches from edge of stone.  Points will extend off the edge of the stone.  Roll or press ends of dough toward center to create a 5 inch opening.

Fill the meat mixture evenly over the dough in a continuous circle
Bring points of triangles up over filling and tuck under dough at center to form a ring

OR on a stone or cookie sheet
unroll 2 packages of rolls, do not separate.  Arrange dough on stone with longest sides of rectangles across width of stone.  Roll or press dough to seal seams.

Starting on longest sides of stone, cut sides of dough into eight strips, about 1 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches long.  Fill evenly over center of dough.
starting at one end, life one strip of dough, twist on turn and lay across top of filling.  Repeat, alternating strips of dough to form a braid.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

I have seen many different recipes for this type of sandwich, so I decided to take a little bit from a few different ones. Mainly from the magazine Better Homes and Gardens Slow- Cooker Favorites. Then I added a few extra things to make it my own!  These sandwiches melt in your mouth.  You cook this in the slow cooker and I think the meat is the most tender meat ever when cooked this way!  My husband, Curtis, absolutely LOVES these! Plus, who doesn't love a recipe that is easy!  I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do!

Italian Beef Sandwiches

Adapted from Slow-Cooker Favorites Magazine, Recipezaar.com, and Allrecipes.com

1 1/2  cups of beef broth

1        3-4 pound boneless  beef chuck roast, sirloin, or rump roast---I always use a rump roast for this

2        0.7 packages of dry Italian-style dry salad dressing mix -- ( Good Seasons is what I use)

2        teaspoons Italian seasoning, crushed

1        teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2     teaspoon crushed red pepper (we like things hot so I use 1 full teaspoon)

1/2     jar of either mild or hot banana pepper rings, both the peppers and the juice

1       fresh red pepper sliced

some type of crusty rolls - the base has fresh breads everyday and I usually get sandwich baguette rolls or toasted kaiser rolls

cheese slices.. we like pepperjack or provolone

Combine beef broth with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salad dressing mix, crushed red pepper, banana pepper rings and juice of banana pepper rings.  Whisk to combine

Put roast in slow cooker and cover with salad dressing broth mixture.  Cover, and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 10-12.

When finished, remove beef and transfer to a cutting board.  Shred beef using 2 forks to pull all the meat apart.  Add meat back to the liquid and add the red pepper strips.  Cook for an additional 30 minutes on low.

Add the meat to your toasted bread and add cheese!  We then pop them open faced in the broiler for a few minutes to let the cheese melt and add a little mayo.  Serve with a side of the juice for dipping! YUMMY!  I promise you will fall in love with these tender, tasty sandwiches!