My first new recipe of the year...

I wanted to start with something easy and something I knew my girls would probably eat. So I made a Taco Meatball Ring. This recipe yields 8 servings and can be used as an appetizer or meal.

Ingredients:

2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided. (I shred my own cheese b/c I like it better.)
2 Tbsp water
2-4 Tbsp taco seasoning (I used an entire small packet of seasoning)
1/2 lb ground beef (I used a whole pound b/c I wanted bigger meatballs)

2 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

shredded lettuce

tomato chopped

green onions sliced

olives sliced (we didn't have any so I did not include these in my recipe)

sour cream

salsa, optional

(It also calls for 2 small jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced, but I don't like jalapenos, so I excluded them)

 

In a bowl, combine 1 cup cheese, water and taco

seasoning

Crumble beef over mixture and mix well

Shape into 16 balls. Place 1 inch apart in an ungreased 15 in x10 in x 1 in baking pan (I used a cake pan). Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 12-15 min, or untiil meat is no longer pink.

Drain meatballs on paper towels.

Reduce heat to 375 degrees.

Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into triangle. Place triangles on a 14 in pizza pan, forming a ring with pointed ends facing outer edge of pan and wide ends overlapping. Lightly press wide ends together.

Place a meatball on each roll; fold point over meatball and tuck under wide end of roll (meatballs will be visible).






.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until rolls are golden brown

Fill ring with the lettuce, tomato, onions, olives remaining cheese, sour cream, salsa and any other toppings you'd like.   

                                                             Recipe courtesy of: Taste of Home: Winning Recipes.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe! I loved it and my girls really liked it too! My kitchen smelled amazing while it was baking. And the crescent roll is a nice break from tortillas! Have fun cooking!!!