My wife and I have three kids, ages 11, 10, and 3.  She works three evenings a week, and guess what that means?  Daddy’s gotta cook.  We could just order out, but supper has turned into a real tradition for us;  in a world where there never seems to be time for the kids, it’s a chance to spend time together, create something, and eat (reasonably) healthy.  So here, then, is the first in a series of “Dad’s making dinner” meals.

Ingredients

• 1 box of spanish rice (which you’ll cook before anything else)
• 1 pound of hamburger
• 1/2 cup of chopped (really little pieces) onion
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped just like the onions
• 2 cans of enchilada sauce
• 10 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 little can of olives
• 1 can of corn
• 1 can of chili beans
• 10 big flour tortillas, cut into quarters

The kids and I usually take the time to set the ingredients out in their own little containers;  a grown man and three kids tend to be a catastrophe in the kitchen- this keeps the mess and damage to a minimum. (although it does make a few more dishes)

Method

1. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees
2. Cook the beef in a large frying pan until it’s not raw (pink).  Stir in the onions and garlic, and put it on simmer while you do the rest.
3. Put the meat and veggies into a big pot.  Stir in the enchilada sauce, corn, beans,and olives.
4. Cook it until it starts to thicken.
5. Now make a layer of shells in the bottom of one of those glass rectangle baking pans. 
6. Put a thin, even layer of rice on top of them.
7. Spread your meat and veggie sauce on top of that.
8. Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top of that.
9. Starting with the shells, do it again.
10. Bake it until the top layer is melted and crispy

The whole thing takes less than an hour, and actually tastes like it came from a restaurant.  Save a good size plate for the wife, tell her you slaved over it, and call it a night.  Enjoy!