California (mexican) Tortilla Casserole

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 3 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives (extra may be offered for garnish)
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
• 12 corn tortillas, quartered
• 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 8 ounces sliced monterey jack cheese
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• sour cream (optional)
• extra sliced black olives (optional)
• chopped green onion (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°; grease (or spray with non-stick pan spray) a 3qt casserole dish; set aside.
• 2 in large skillet, saute beef with onion and garlic over medium heat (in batches if necessary) and drain; sprinkle chili powder over meat and mix well.
• 3 add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, olives, and green chiles; simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.
• 4 beat cottage cheese and egg together until blended.
• 5 in bottom of 3qt casserole dish, spread 1/3 of meat; layer with half of jack cheese, half cottage cheese& egg, half tortillas, then next 3rd of meat.
• 6 continue layering with remaining jack cheese, c/c, remaining tortillas, ending with remaining 1/3 meat; sprinkle top with cheddar cheese.
• 7 bake, uncovered, at 350° until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted; serve with sour cream, sliced black olives and green onion if desired (recommended).