Smiley Face Casserole

• 1 26-ounce bag frozen smiley-face potato fries
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 8 ounces mushrooms, coarsely chopped
• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (90% or higher)
• 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded (1 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Kosher salt
• 10 3/4-ounce can condensed lower-fat, lower-sodium cream of mushroom soup
• 10 3/4-ounce can filled with 1% low-fat milk
• 2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided

1. Preheat the oven and bake the fries according to package directions.
2. Remove from the oven and set aside.
3. While the fries are cooking, heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium-high heat.
4. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the meat, carrot, garlic powder, and pepper and cook, breaking up the large pieces, until the meat is no longer pink and the carrot is tender, about 5 minutes.
6. Drain excess fat and season with salt and additional pepper to taste.
7. Stir in the soup, milk, and 1 1/2, cups of the cheese (the mixture will seem very thin at this point, but dont worry).
8. Heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a simmer.
9. Remove from the heat.
10. Set the oven to 425F.
11. Arrange half the cooked fries in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or dish.
12. Top with the meat mixture, the remaining 1/2, cup of cheese, and the remaining potato smiles.
13. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake until the mixture is bubbly, about 10 minutes.

fries, canola oil, mushrooms, ground beef, carrot, garlic, black pepper, kosher salt, condensed lower, filled with, cheddar cheese

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/smiley-face-casserole (may not work)