Late- Meaty Macaroni Bake

Frying pan is the only picture I took of the actual process lol! The other pic is from the recipe card.

My Daughter was being crazy clingy so I didn't have a lot of opportunity to take pics and if I did it slipped my mind because I was concentrating! 

This dish was AWESOME!!!! I loved it!!! A great lasagna twist.


Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 16oz jar spicy spaghetti sauce (I did not use spicy because of my 16 month old but I would have normally)
1 4oz can of mushroom pieces, drained
6oz elbow macaroni, divided
1 cup sour cream, divided
4oz provolone cheese, sliced
4oz mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:
1. Heat large skillet over med-high hear; add beef. Cook, stirring, until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes; drain fat.

2. Add onion to skillet; cook 2 minutes. Stir spaghetti sauce and mushrooms into skillet. Simmer covered for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Layer half the pasta, half the sauce and half the sour cream in prepared baking dish (I recommend something smaller than a 9x13 bc I had to add more pasta or it didn't layer well, too much space). Layer Provolone cheese over top.

4. Continue layering remaining ingredients as in step 3 (not the provolone all of that goes in the middle). Top with mozzarella. Cover loosley with foil sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 25 minutes; uncover. Bake for 5 minutes longer.

Chicken and Pasta Medley

This is what was for dinner tonight! It was pretty good!

Ingredients you will need to make this:

1 6 oz. pkg tri-colored pasta (I had Rotini noodles so I used those)

3 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 10 oz can of broccoli chicken soup (just realized while typing I used cream of broccoli soup lol!!)

1 soup can (the 10 oz one from the broccoli chicken soup) milk

1/2 green bell pepper cut into thin strips

1 2 oz jar chopped pimiento

1 5 oz (you have to buy 8oz and when drained it is 5 oz) can water chestnuts, drain, chopped (I didn't chop them)

4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Serves 6

Directions:

 I boiled 3 chicken breasts then cut into cubes, it only took 2 large ones to make enough chicken

So I don't know why but the blog isn't letting me post like normal so here are the pics of the steps then the steps follow. Sorry!

1. Cook Pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse; drain again. Meanwhile, mix Chicken, soup, milk, bell pepper, pimiento and water chestnuts in a bowl, Add pasta to bowl; mix.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cheddar to chicken mixture; mix gently to combine. Spray 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Spoon Chicken mixture into prepared dish, spreading evenly.
4. Sprinkle top of casserole with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Meat Loaf Supreme

Ok guys! I HIGHLY recommend this recipe this is actually the 2nd time I have made it and it is AWESOME!!! My husband text me to tell me how delicious it was and how grateful he was for me making it lol!

So here is goes, sorry I didn't take as many pictures of the process but my daughter was running around getting in to all sorts of things that made my picture taking a minimum.

To make this you will need:
1 small onion
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp dried basil
1 tbsp dried parsley
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

Topping:
3 tbsp Ketchup
1 tbsp Honey
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
(Personally I double the topping)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9x5-inch loaf pan with foil. Spray with cooking spray. Chop onion and bell pepper in food processor. (I used a 8x8 pan bc I don't have a 9x5 for some reason... I think someone has mine and has for a while! Bakes in 45 minutes to an hour)
2. Combine milk and egg in a large bowl; add bread crumbs, basil, parsley and pepper. Stir until blended. Add onion and bell pepper; mix well. Add beef; mix just to combine ingredients.
3. Shape mixture in prepared loaf pan. Do NOT pack.

Looks a little gross lol!

 For topping combine ketchup, honey and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Mix Well. Spread evenly over top of meat loaf


    




        4. Back meat loaf until cooked through, about 1 hour. Place pan on rack; let stand for 5 minutes, (I    disregard the next instructions) Lift meat loaf out of pan and place on a serving platter. Remove foil. Serve immediatly

This was after I cut a piece for my husband to take to work for his lunch. YUM!

This is my plate digging in with my daughter!






Again this is an AWESOME recipe. I highly recommend you try it!
Comments welcomed!

Manicotti with 3 Cheeses

Today (or actually yesterday because it went past midnight posting this) I made Manicotti with 3 Cheeses
Ingredients:

12 Manicotti Shells
4 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
8oz Soft Cream Cheese with Onions and Chives
3 Cups Marinara Sauce
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Cook Manicotti in large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water, drain again

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray (I used a small amount of oil on bottom) Mix 3 Cups Mozzarella with Soft Cream Cheese. Stuff the Manicotti: place in prepared dish

I accidentally bought plain cream cheese so I added some onion and chives

Added the 3 cups Moz.

I split the Manicotti and handrolled the cheese mix and the curled it up.




3. Spoon Marinara Sauce on Manicotti.

Easy lol, except I didn't want to buy more sauce when I had tons at home premade, plus I know how to make my own so I used a garlic and herb sauce.






4.Sprinkle Manicotti with remaining 1 Cup Mozzarella . Bake for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 10 minutes longer.

             

Added Mozzarella

Baked for 15 mins then Sprinkled with Parmesan

It was good despite the Cream Cheese Mix up... I think you could also add Italian Sausage to the cheese mix (cooked of course) and it would be great. If you are a fan of cheese this recipe is for you!!!
If you try it let me know what you think!

Also if you are a freezer meal person the recipe states you can stuff the Manicotti without the Sauce and put in an air tight container and store for upto 1 month!!! NICE!!! Then when you are ready to eat it just defrost add sauce and follow step 4.


ENJOY! I did!

Meal Planning Fun!

On the left you see 6 recipe cards... This is going to be my new thing. I am going to Meal Plan.

No More going to the store and getting random things on sale and hoping I can make something out of them. I do end up using them... but it leaves me with the SAME meals all the time, but I actually like to cook so the things in my rotation are getting old, not bad. I just need to try out new things.

Being Prepared is what I am trying to do. I usually want to do something new for dinner, so I go look through all my recipes, I find a few but I am always missing a few things to make them complete. So I made a decision to grab 5-6 recipes a week and make a list off all the things I need for that week's meals. I will go shopping every week and still try and find deals (Couponing is still amazing!) but make sure that I am getting key ingredients for what I am going to make.

Why only 5 or 6? I know I will have leftovers from at least 2 meals and 1 night I usually go to a bible study that is always a potluck dinner... I have a 7th card for that night but it wont be a main dish type thing. More a side or something I can make a lot of. This week will be Crispy Salsa Potato Skins... Sounds good huh?

So here is my plan. I am going to pick these recipes every Tuesday or Wednesday so I can go shopping the next day, because Sales start on Wednesdays so it only makes sense to try and get good deals before the others take them all! Then I will make them everyday I plan but leave room for those leftovers, or have my husband take them for his lunch if more than 2 meals have leftovers, OR we can have it for lunch on the weekends. All room for adjustment... But on with my plan. I am going to take pictures and write a daily blog on the new foods so people have reviews on how they look and taste so they can try them at home. I will list all the ingredients and everything.

I think this will be fun. I like sharing and food always being people closer together. Even in the bible it talks numerous times about "breaking bread"  

Acts 2:46
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart

Ahhh Food, it is my best friend and sometimes my worst enemy. Through all these meals I am planning to make I pray I never over indulge, but keep adequate portions and always savor the flavor!!! I still have a weight loss goal!

Stay tuned: Meals from 1/19/12 to 1/25 are as follows:

1. Manicotti with Three Cheeses
2. Meatloaf Supreme
3. Chicken and Pasta Medley
4. Creamy Chicken Alfredo
5. Meaty Macaroni Bake
6. Creamy Chicken with Peas.

**Bonus: Crispy Salsa Potato Skins



Yum I can't wait!!

Karaoke Ring of Death (KROD) Jan.2012

SO I am doing this fun thing called Karaoke Ring of Death (KROD). It's monthly (this is my 1st month so hopefully I am doing it right!)  and this was my video partner this month!

Check it out! you can read his blogs HERE>>>  http://littlearrowshurt.blogspot.com/

Great job David!

If you would like to see my video Liz is hosting me at her blog http://landscapes-of-me.blogspot.com/

New year

New Years Resolutions. Yes I made them and I (like everyone else) intend on keeping them. Here they are:
Get under my pre-pregnancy weight and I will have you know I only need to loose 12 more lbs to get to my pre-pregnancy weight!!! I am doing good! lol. Although I know I was not fat by any means at my pre-pregnancy weight, I wasn't where I wanted to be physically. I am not afraid to say what I weighed and what I now weigh and what I want to weigh so let me break it down:
Pre-Pregnancy- 144lbs
Pregnancy- 199lbs (YIKES)

Currently- 156lbs!!
Goal- 135-140lbs

Reasonable right? I think so. I have come along way since I have been able to work out after my second pregnancy in March. I have lost 43lbs!!! and only have 15-20 more to hit my goal weight. I am 5'4" so 130-140lbs is good for me.

My 2nd Resolution helps my first one. DRINK MORE WATER!!! My mother-in-law got me a Britta pitcher because I hate that I am, but I am one of those bottled water girls... I hate tap. Even though I bought one one time that said it was bottled where I live... Stupid. Anyway It has helped me a ton! I found I have a water bottle that holds 24oz, and the minimum you should drink is 64oz a day. Well I drank 72oz yesterday by filling it up 3 times! I felt accomplished.

My 3rd and Final Resolution (unless I join 12 changes in 12 months) is that I am going to expose myself more musically. I have started doing that by using youtube. I have been doing a Karaoke type thing for now, but I will also start working on my own music again soon. I post my video's on facebook and hope people share and that others will randomly start finding me on youtube and subscribe. You can subscribe to me by clicking this link Sandywessel and tell your friends! Some are serious some are fun, and some are funny!

What are your resolutions?