Burrito Pie (or a more appetizing name)

I just wrote a post for Salt and Nectar about what to do for a new mom. One suggestion is to bring them food. Lots of food. They are strange bottomless-pit creatures. I brought this meal tonight to a neighbor with a new baby and I thought it would be a good time to share the recipe with you.

This is a recipe that Taylor and I have made for years. It was a great law school staple. Easy to make, filling, and great for leftovers. I have it saved as “Burrito Pie” because that’s how the recipe was given to us. But that’s gross, right? It doesn’t even make sense, where does pie come in at all? We should call it Mexican Lasagna or Taco Cassarole or Meat, Cheese and Stuff. Anything would be better. But it is sort of stuck. If I tried to change it, I’d be saying, “Taylor let’s have Taco Cassarole.” He’d say “What?” I’d say, “You know, previously known as Burrito Pie.” And why bother. We’ll just call it that because that’s what we call it. But I promise it’s really good.

Here are the ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce (we use Las Palmas Red Chile)
• 2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans
• 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 9 ounces shredded Colby cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 4 quart casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.

Here are some photos:

Cooking the meat, onions, and garlic

Add the refried beans, tomatoes, taco sauce

Meat layer

Cheese layer

Tortilla layer. Then repeat until you end with cheese on top.

Bake

Yum! Time for PIE!!