Tortilla Casserole

Recipe By     : Jo Anne Merrill
Serving Size  : 8    Preparation Time :0:45
Categories    : Casseroles                       Meats

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      pound         ground round -- or ground sirloin
   1      teaspoon      lemon pepper
  30      ounces        spaghetti sauce -- * see note
   4      ounces        green chiles
   4      tablespoons   sliced black olives
   2      cups          ricotta cheese, part skim milk
   2                    eggs
   8                    corn tortillas
   2      cups          Monterey jack cheese -- shredded

* Use the canned sauce of your choice, about a 30 ounce jar.

     Use ground round or ground sirloin. If using a fattier meat, drain very thoroughly. Brown beef in a skillet; drain thoroughly. Add the sauce, seasoning spice and drained green chiles which have been chopped fine. Simmer for 10 minutes. Mix ricotta cheese and eggs in small bowl, blending well. Use 2 pie-plates or similar sized oven proof dishes. Place 1/2 cup of the sauce in each, spreading to cover bottom of dish.
     Place one tortilla in each dish. Spread with 1/8th of the ricotta-egg mixture. Top with about 1/3 cup of meat sauce mixture, 1/3 cup grated cheese and sprinkle sliced olives over top of each. Continue layering, ending with meat sauce and jack cheese. You will have 2 stacks of 4 tortillas each. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Let stand for few minutes, then slice into pie-shaped wedges and serve immediately.

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