There used to be a restaurant chain here in the Midwest called Max & Erma’s that had delicious chicken tortilla soup. It was creamy, lightly spicy and so comforting on a cold day.

Sadly, I think the chain mostly went out of business a few years ago, and the only one still around is at the airport, I think.

This Crockpot Taco Soup is inspired by, but quite a bit different than that restaurant soup. My version is a little lighter (less creamy) and uses ground beef instead of chicken.

Unlike many other crock pot soup recipes out there, this one doesn’t just have a dull, one-note flavor. Deeply browned ground beef, tomatoes, two types of beans, green chiles and lots of seasoning give this soup layers of comforting flavor.

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BEST Prime Rib Rub

My family doesn’t have a certain meal we eat every Christmas, but often enough, it’s prime rib. Otherwise known as a standing rib roast, it can be intimidating for a home cook to execute.

So let’s just start at the beginning. The first step to achieve a beautifully seasoned prime rib that will leave your guests impressed is a really great Prime Rib Rub.

A rub made with simple ingredients like rosemary, thyme, garlic and shallots creates a deeply flavorful and crispy crust on the meat, making it a memorable meal every single time.

The post Dry Rub for Prime Rib appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

Rigatoni bolognese is a hearty and comforting dish I learned to make in culinary school. It’s a classic Italian dish that never fails to satisfy your taste buds.

Patience is key for this long-simmered meat sauce, but your patience will be rewarded with a depth of flavor that is worth the wait.

Today, I’m sharing tips for how to choose the best ingredients and the perfect noodle shape, as well as how to make rigatoni alla bolognese ahead of time, and refrigerate it or freeze it for future meals.

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This Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese has been in my family for generations!

Today, I’m sharing my family’s recipe for lasagna with cottage cheese. My mom got the recipe from her mom, and she often made this for Christmas day when I was a kid (and sometimes my birthday, too!).

First things first, let’s get this out of the way: Is this lasagna recipe with cottage cheese authentically Italian? No. Is it delicious? Absolutely.

YES, as the name makes crystal clear, this is lasagna without ricotta, and it uses cottage cheese instead. Yes, I know that ricotta is more traditional in authentic Italian food.

But hey, this recipe is from the Midwest (ope!), where cottage cheese is readily available, affordable, and delicious, and I am here. for. it.

The post Lasagna made with Cottage Cheese appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

Best Lasagna Soup Recipe

This Lasagna Soup brings together all of the flavors of my family’s classic Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese, but takes MUCH less time than putting together a traditional lasagna.

This will definitely hit the spot for anybody craving lasagna but pressed for time. The combination of two different types of meat, herbs and spices, and a rich tomato broth make this the best lasagna soup recipe out there.

The post Creamy Lasagna Soup (2 Ways – Stovetop or Crock Pot) appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

This easy Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe is perfect for a weeknight!

With grocery prices going up and up, steak isn’t something that we buy very often. Ground beef is more affordable, but what can you do with it besides tacos, spaghetti and burgers?

Turns out, ground beef stir fry with rice is a delicious way to prepare this standby weeknight protein.

While stir fry is usually made with sliced steak or chicken, I actually kind of prefer it with ground meat! The little bits of meat get crispy and delicious, and it makes a really nice bite when served with rice.

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Avocado Burgers are where it’s at!

Hamburgers made at home don’t have to be just sad patties topped with a Kraft cheese single (but honestly, that’s the way I grew up eating them).

If you like restaurant-style burgers with creative toppings and flavorful sauces (think Red Robin), this Avocado Burger recipe will delight your taste buds.

The cilantro mayo especially is what sets this recipe apart from others. It combines with the avocado to make a flavorful bite that guacamole lovers will appreciate.

The post Bacon Avocado Burger appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

This is the Best Steak Marinade

It’s probably a Midwest thing, but I grew up eating flank steak marinated in bottled Italian salad dressing. And honestly, it was so so good. 10/10 would eat again.

Recently I wanted to make steak lettuce wraps with flank steak and wanted to marinate the steaks first. I was kind of craving something along the lines of that Italian dressing, but didn’t want to run to the store for a bottle of dressing.

I did have a bottle of balsamic vinegar on hand after making my balsamic glaze recipe, so I started there. Using that, along with some other things I had around, I was able to whip this marinade up in just a few minutes.

Use this Balsamic Steak Marinade for flank steak, skirt steak, or any other cut of beef you would like to marinate before cooking.

The post Balsamic Steak Marinade Sauce appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

You will love this Pastichio Recipe

Since the start of this blog I have tried to consistently bring you recipes that my family eats and loves. With an emphasis on classic, well-loved dishes without fussy ingredients, like my fettuccine bolognese. 

They might make you feel like a chef right in your own home, but mostly, they’re just delicious.

You know I have an affinity for comforting baked pastas like my family’s Midwestern classic, lasagna recipe with cottage cheese, and it’s vegetarian cousin, vegetables lasagna.

And my taste buds often crave Greek flavors, so Greek chicken meatballs with Greek yogurt mashed potatoes are a dinner we make often, and my melomakarona recipe are our favorite Christmas cookie.

So add that all up, and what do you get? This Greek Lasagna, which is something I have been making for my family for years and years, but haven’t published on this blog until today.

“Made this for my boyfriend and I on date night. I was really worried because I have never made anything like the cream sauce before, and I am newly non-vegetarian so cooking meat is also fresh to me. It turned out EXACTLY like the picture and I’m so excited I get to eat the leftovers for the next few days. This is definitely going into my special occasion recipe rotation. Thank you for the great recipe!”

—Lara

The post Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna) appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

As I mentioned last week when I shared my colcannon soup, I’m trying to build up the St. Patrick’s Day recipe selection on this website a little bit more.

While I can make a whole meal out of mini shepherds pies and Baileys brownies, I wanted to share something that will be perfect for leftover corned beef you might have after St. Patrick’s Day. You can also buy some corned beef from a deli specifically to make these for the holiday itself (or anytime), though!

And, as I’ll explain below, these corned beef egg rolls are also a uniquely Detroit creation. But no matter where you hail from, I think you’ll find them fun to make and decadently delicious.

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