Mexican Bean Casserole

1 lb ground beef
2 tsp minced onion
1/4 c chopped green pepper
1 taco seasoning mix
2 c cooked rice
2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
8 oz sour cream
grated cheese
1 can olives, optional
tortilla chips

Brown ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Drain fat. Add taco mix and water. Cook rice. Add to meat mixture: tomato sauce, kidney beans, cooked rice, and olives (save enough to put on top). Put in 9x13 pan. Spread on sour cream and cheese and garnish with olives. Line pan with tortilla chips. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips.

Healthier version:
Use only 1/2 lb ground beef and only 2 oz grated cheddar cheese. Calories with substitutions is 227 for 1/12th of casserole (not including tortilla chips).

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg mild taco seasoning mix
1 16 oz can cut corn (drain if you want a thicker soup)
1 16 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 28 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce

Optional Toppings:
tortilla chips
grated cheese
sour cream
olives

Brown ground beef in large sauce pan. Drain fat. Saute chopped onion. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with toppings.

Healthier versions:
With only 1/2 lb ground beef there is 157 calories per 1/2 c serving. (Not including toppings.)
With no ground beef there is 111 calories per 1/2 c serving. (Not including toppings.) If not using beef, only use 1/2 of the taco seasoning pkg.
Toppings will add tons of calories so don't go overboard. Each tortilla chip adds about 10 calories, 1 T of sour cream adds 30 calories, and 1 oz of cheddar cheese adds 110 calories.