Baked Spaghetti

This recipe may not sound that great, but we REALLY love it at our house.  It is a thick, cheesy caserole - kind of an alternative to lasagna.  It is pretty easy to throw together and then  you can freeze it or put it in your fridge for later.  It makes a ton of food, good for leftovers or for sharing with neighbors.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti or angel hair pasta (you can really sub any type of pasta here)
• 1 pound ground beef (sometimes I leave this out if I don't have it)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (26 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and seasoned salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture and toss to coat.
3. Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with half of the cottage cheese, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Slow Cooker Tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8-10 hours or 3.5-4 hours
Serving: 8

Ingredients:

• 4 frozen chicken breasts
• 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 2 handfuls frozen corn
• 15 oz jar salsa
• 1 cube cream cheese (8 oz)
• tortillas
• shredded cheese (optional)

Preparation:

Put first 4 ingredients in crockpot.  Cook on high for 3.5hrs.  Take out chicken and shred with fork.  Put back in crockpot.  Turn crockpot to low and add 1 cube of cream cheese for remaining 30 minutes.  Serve in tortillas and top with shredded cheese (optional) and whatever else you like on tacos.

These tacos are amazing!

Vanilla Honey Butter

Put this on warm bread for a yummy treat!

Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a mixer on low speed for about 7 minutes (or until well mixed).  If it is too runny, keep it in your fridge for a few minutes.

Pomegranate Parfait

This is more of an idea than a recipe.  I wanted to buy a pomegranate, but didn't know what to do with it.  So I made a parfait!  You could play with this and use whatever fruit and yogurt you'd like.  Here's what I did (served 3):


Ingredients:
1 pomegranate, shelled
1 flat raspberries
1 banana, sliced
5 containers Yoplait light vanilla whipped yogurt
3 cookie sticks

Instructions:
Divide half of the fruit between 3 glasses
Put a container of whipped yogurt in each glass
Put the rest of the fruit on top of the yogurt
Top each glass with a little more yogurt
Put a cookie stick in each glass


Yum!

Ham & Potato Baked Omlet

I wasn't sure what to call this recipe.  I made it up last night based on the sack of baby red potatoes and leftover ham I needed to get rid of before it went bad.  It was SO delicious.  You could play around with it eg. use less butter, add peppers, use different kinds of potatoes or hash browns, add spinach, add more eggs, etc.  I don't think you could really ruin it.  Here is how I made it.  I used my Vialdia Chop Wizard to chop the potatoes, onions and ham.  It made it so fast and easy and I think when everything is uniform in size it cooks more evenly.

Ingredients:
3 cups diced baby red potatoes
1/3 c. butter, melted
seasoning salt to taste
1 cup diced ham
1/2 onion, diced
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.  Layer potatoes in the bottom of a 9" pie pan.  Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with seasoned salt.  Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.  Combine ham, cheese and onion in a small bowl.  In a separate bowl whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and seasoning salt.   Pull potatoes out of oven after 20 minutes and spread the ham mixture over the top.  Pour the egg mixture on top of that.  Reduce oven heat to 350 and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until filling is golden brown.

Lettuce Salad

Serves 8
Ingredients:
Green or red leaf lettuce
Grape tomatoes
Slivered almonds (toasted)

Dressing:
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 T red wine vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil

Mix dressing ingredients in blender.
Toss with salad
Sprinkle parmasean cheese on top.

Grandma's Minestrone Soup

1/2 lb bulk sausage
2 qt. water

Brown sausage and drain
Add water adn simmer for 5 minutes

Add:
2 onions, chopped
2 large carrots, sliced
2 large celery stalks, diced
1/2 c. small white beans
1 28 oz pureed tomatoes
2 8  oz tomato sauce
2 c. beef bouillon
1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
Salt, pepper and garlic to taste
Simmer four hours

30 minutes before serving add:
1 can kidney beans
1 can green beens
1 c. small shell macaroni

Lime Salsa

Ingredients:

1 avocado

1 large tomato

1/4 c. lime juice

1/3 c. cilantro

2 Tbsp. canola oil

2 tsp sugar

1/2 ts. salt

1 can corn (drained)

1 large purple onion

Instructions:

Mix all ingredient together.  Serve with tortilla chips or on grilled chicken sandwiches.

Picture Courtesy For the Love of Cooking

Chevy's Pico de Gallo

Ingredients:
2 c. (1 lb) tomatoes, diced
1/2 c. white onion, diced
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
1 1/2 Tbsp minced jalapeno
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, mix well.  Serve chilled.

Picture Courtesy of Gluten Free Mommy

Santa Fe Salad

Salad Ingredients:
2 heads romaine lettuce
2 c. monteray jack cheese
1 c. frozen young white corn
1 c. black beans, drained
4 green onions, chopped
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 cups tortilla strips
2 ripe avocados, diced

Salad Directions:
Toss ingredients together, tortilla strips on top.  If serving as a meal, add 3 c. cooked diced chicken. Serve dressing (recipe below) on the side.

Spicy Salsa Ranch Dressing:
1 c. milk
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1 c. mayonnaise
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 c. fresh salsa (or Kirkland bottled salsa works too)

Dressing Instructions:
Mix all ingredints together in bowl with a whisk until well blended.