Crock Pot Lasagna Soup

This was a HIT with the whole family!  They loved it, and I therefore loved it.  When they don't complain, and actually like something new, it's a keeper!  It was indeed, easy to make and delicious to eat.

ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef or sausage
3 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
1 cup water
2 cups V8
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1, 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups uncooked shell pasta
shredded mozzarella (for serving)

directions:
1.  Brown the meat, drain the fat.  
2.  Combine all ingredients in the crock pot, except for the pasta and mozzarella.
3.  Cook on Low for 4-8 hours.  1/2 hour before serving, stir in the shell pasta.  Put lid back on and continue to cook for 15-30 minutes.  
4.  Serve and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Read More

Italian Baked Penne

I just got back from a fun weekend in Winter Park with my friends. We had a great time. We all take turns with meals, and it's fun to sample other people's cooking and recipes. This was made for us and it was really yummy. I kind of stood in and helped in the prep a little, and saw that it wasn't too difficult...and man--it was YUMMY! Thought I'd pass it on. Thanks Chance!

ingredients:

1 pkg. (16 oz) penne rigate pasta noodles

1 pkg. (1 lb) ground mild italian sausage

1 cup frozen chopped onion (I'm sure you could dice some fresh too)

2 garlic cloves, crushed or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 pkg. (8 oz) sliced fresh mushrooms

1/3 tsp. black pepper

1 1/2 tsp. italian seasoning

1 can (14.5 oz) italian style diced tomatoes

2 cans (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes

2 1/2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped (optional)

8 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425. Bring salted water to boil in large pot. Add penne pasta and cook until al dente (read package cooking instructions). Drain and return to pan.

2. While pasta is cooking, heath large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, pepper, italian season, onion and garlic and saute until sausage is cooked through, breaking up meat, about 10 minutes.

3. Add in diced and crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine with sausage/onion mixture.

4. Combine sausage/onion/tomato mixture with pasta, spinach, mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. Pour into 13x9" baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup parmesan cheese over top.

4. Bake 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*Serve with a fresh salad. Very yummy! Enjoy!

Read More

Simple Crock Pot Meatballs

This recipe is great for a basic--but delicious and tender--meatball. We love it in meatball subs (just get some hoggie rolls and mozzarella cheese). It is also great with your spaghetti too. Enjoy!




ingredients:
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
1 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs
1-2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 small yellow onion, finely dinced (or 2 Tbsp. dried minced onion)
1 egg, beaten
1 jar/can spaghetti sauce
salt to taste


directions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together beef, bread crumbs, parsley and onion. Add the egg. Mix until combined together.

2. Shape into 12-16 meatballs (depending on the size of meatball you want). Pour spaghetti sauce over the meatballs.

3. Spray your crock pot with non-stick baking spray. Place meatballs in the crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.

The meatballs will be tender and delicious. Enjoy!

Read More

Angel Hair Lasagna (a.k.a. Spaghetti Casserole)

A friend of mine recently asked for this recipe...we had it many moons ago when she and her hubby came for dinner. I actually got the recipe from my sister-in-law. It's a family favorite for sure!

ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese*

16 oz. sour cream*

1 lb. hamburger or ground turkey

large jar or can of spaghetti sauce

1 package of spaghetti noodles (I use Angel Hair)

16 oz. mozzarella cheese*

directions:

1. Cook the noodles and set aside to cool--but keep moist.

2. Bring cream cheese and sour cream to room temperature and mix well with beaters.

3. Grate the cheese and set aside (or buy grated).

4. Brown hamburger/turkey and simmer in spaghetti sauce for several minutes.

5. Spray a 9x13 pan. Put the cream cheese/sour cream mixture on the bottom of your casserole dish.

6. Layer noodles, then meat sauce, then mozzarella. Repeat once more. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

*Lower-fat options: use 1/3 less fat cream cheese, lite sour cream, park-skim mozzarella

I usually end up wanting this a little more saucy, so I use one can/jar of sauce with the meat, then another 1/3 can/jar of sauce over the top before the final layer of cheese. Optional!

Read More

Manicotti Cordon Bleu

I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to soon. I actually found it on a coupon my milk man left for me and thought it looked interesting. If you try it too, leave a comment and let me know how you liked it!

ingredients:

1 pkg (12 oz.) string cheese snacks

12 slices deli ham or turkey

12 manicotti shells, uncooked

1 jar (26 oz.) pasta sauce

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup Artisan Blends Parmesan Cheese

directions:

1. Unwrap string cheese; place over each meat slice and roll up. Slide rolled cheese into pasta shell.

2. Combine pasta sauce and water; mix well. Spread 3/4 cup sauce mixture over 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange filled manicotti shells in dish; spread remaining sauce over mixture evenly over shells.

3. Cover with foil; bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 50 minutes or until pasta is tender. Top with parmesan cheese.

Note from Sara: Make sure you cook this with foil on until the noodles are soft. You may even want to buy the "ready to bake" manacotti noodles, or boil regular Manacotti noodles for a couple of minutes to get them started! Good luck!

Read More

Mom's Parmesan Chicken

This recipe was given to me by Kristen Johnson...a friend in my ward. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds very tasty and not too complicated! If you try it, leave a comment and let me know how you like it! Thanks Kristen!

ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
garlic salt
1 c. of Ritz crackers
½ c. parmesan cheese
½-1 c. sour cream or plain yogurt
¼ c. butter (optional)

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Pat chicken breasts dry, sprinkle chicken with garlic salt, let sit.
3. Crumble about a cup of Ritz crackers. Combine with parmesan cheese.
4. Dip chicken in sour cream or plain yogurt and cover with dry cracker mixture. Optional: drizzle with melted butter.
5. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Read More

Sausage Tortellini Soup

A very thoughtful friend brought this over last night for my family, as I've been a bit under the weather. It was so yummy, I thought I'd share it. I'm excited to have another meal to add to our family-meal-rotaion. The recipe comes from my ward cookbook...by Melinda Thompson. Thank Liv!

ingredients:
2 lbs. ground Italian sausage
2 cloves minced garlic
1 med. chopped onion
6 c. beef broth
6 c. canned pureed tomatoes
3 large carrots, chopped
2 Tbsp. oregano
3 1/2 c. tomato sauce
2 tsp. basil
2 Tbsp. parsley
1 bay leaf
2 (10-oz.) pkgs. tortellini

directions:
Brown sausage and drain. Saute onion and garlic in a large pot. Add all ingredients except tortellini. Simmer 2-3 hours. Add tortellini the last 45 minutes of cooking time.

Read More