Gringa Lasagna

Hey Everyone!

Two posts in a night due to my guilt from not posting in a while. I've been really wanting to make a Mexican style Lasagna for a long time because it just seems so tasty and easy to make. I found out tonight it truly is easy and even tastier than I thought. I grew up on the East Coast where we didn't have too much of a Mexican food culture so I'm hoping I did the amazing food justice with this dish. Just in case, I'm gonna go ahead and call it Gringa Lasagna since I am just a white girl trying to mimick yummy Mexican dishes. :oP

Jon doesn't really try new foods so I was surprised when he put on a brave face and tried this dish. It helped that we had friends over so he had to be on his best behavior. I gave some to my parents and we polished off most of the lasagna between us and our friends. After they left, Jon looked at me and say "Hey, we have some lasagna left for ourselves right?" He is brutally honest with me and I never post the recipes he doesn't like because if he doesn't like it, kids won't like it. Most people looking for recipes need something kids will eat. Jon is just a big kid so he really helps out with this blog challenge of mine. After he had to make sure he had some leftovers to eat tomorrow, I knew I had done something right.

I'd love feedback on it from anyone who does enjoy Mexican food a lot because I'm always looking for ways to improve on my cooking skills. Send me your suggestions, comments and pictures to cookingwithcait@gmail.com

Gringa Lasagna

4 slices bacon, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
2 lbs ground pork
1 1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 10 3/4oz can of Cheddar Cheese Soup (Campbell's is what I used)
1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes, drained of juice
1/2 cup salsa, whichever brand you like
1 15oz can of beans (I used Kidney, you can use whichever style you like.)
8 flour tortillas, cut in half
1 8oz bag of monteray jack shredded cheese or mexican blend shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sautee bacon in frying pan until light golden and crispy. Add diced onion. Allow onion to sweat about 2 minutes, then add ground pork. Add chilli powder, paprika and cumin. Mix all together and cook pork until light brown.

While pork is cooking, combine cheddar cheese soup, diced tomatoes and salsa in mixing bowl. When pork is done, add beans to pork, bacon and onions to heat through for about two minutes. Coat bottom of baking dish with olive oil. Layer dish with meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese mixture, more meat, more tortillas, then shredded cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browned.

Send me your feedback!