So more canning is in order and I must find a good recipe for fried green tomatoes. In the meantime, I decided to make "Beef Ole", a recipe I got from my mother-in-law many years ago. It is very easy, filling, and makes good use of the tomatoes. You will need:
About 7 ripe tomatoes (if you don't have an abundance of tomatoes, a 15 oz can of tomato sauce will also work)
3 tbsp taco seasoning (any brand will do)
3 tbsp sloppy joe seasoning (any brand will do)
2 lbs ground beef
2 cups of chopped or shredded lettuce
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 can sliced olives (if desired)
1/2 avocado diced (if desired)
1 cup shredded cheese
taco sauce
tortilla chips
Peel, seed and coarsely cut up the tomatoes, allowing them to drain for a few minutes in a colander. Puree in the blender or food processor and cook over med-high heat stirring frequently until boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer and continue to stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook until reduced by about 1/2. This will take about 1 hour. In the meantime, place the ground beef in a large frying pan and add the seasonings. Cook completely until nicely browned. Add beef to the tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened to the desired consistency.
In a cereal bowl, place about 10 tortilla chips and lightly crush. Add a couple scoops of beef mixture over the chips. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, olives and avocados. Drizzle some taco sauce over the top if desired and enjoy. This is great on a chilly evening.
Enjoy,
Tammie
