Lasagna

This is my favorite lasagna recipe- very easy and so good!

You will need:

1 lb. ground beef
2-1/2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 container (15 oz.) Ricotta Cheese (I used cottage cheese this time- was almost as good)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 jars (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked

*Heat oven to 350°F

* Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat

*Meanwhile, mix 1-1/4 cups mozzarella, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan, parsley and egg until well blended; set aside.

*Drain meat; return to skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Add water

*Spread 1 cup sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheeses. Cover with greased foil.

*Bake 1 hour or until heated through, removing foil after 45 min. Let stand 15 min. before cutting to serve

Cost about $10.

Chicken in savory lemon sauce

This is a Cambell's recipe that I changed up a little bit.

You will need:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup chopped red pepper OR green pepper
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley OR 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. paprika

1 cup uncooked rice

*Cook rice according to directions

*Brown chicken on both sides

* Add the soup, water, pepper, parsley, lemon juice and paprika to the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

*Serve with rice

Cost about $6.

Punch recipe

What you need:

1 strawberry koolaid
1 Large pkg strawberry jello
2 cartons frozen strawberries
1 large can crushed pineapples

*mix items as directed on packages
* mix everything together and put into bundt cake pans, freeze
*2 hours before serving, put into punchbowl



*add ginger ale

Spinach Dip

I made my favorite spinach dip for Samuel's Birthday Party today:


10oz frozen spinach, thawed
1 pk. cream cheese
2 jars marinated artichoke hearts (didn't put those in this time)
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tbs red pepper flakes
1/4 tbs garlic powder


*Combine all ingredients




*Cover and cook for 30 min at 350 degrees




Cost: about $5 without the artichoke hearts

Carrot Cake

I've been making several carrot cakes lately. Today I made one for the MOPS bake sale on Sunday. It's a basic version of the one I usually make- mainly so it will fit into a disposable pan with lid.

Here is what you need:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix
2 cups shredded carrots (about 3 large)
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained

*Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake batter as directed on package





*Stir in carrots and pineapple





*Pour into 9x13 inch pan


*Bake for about 35-40 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean






*Cool in pan 10 min.; invert onto wire rack. Remove pan. Turn cake over; cool completely



For the icing you will need:
4 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 cups powdered sugar



*Beat cream cheese, butter and spice in large bowl with electric mixer until well blended.


*Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended after each addition. Spread onto cake. Store leftovers in refrigerator.






A couple of weeks ago I make cupcakes- they looked like this:



I will blog about the more fancy version of this cake when I make it for Nathon's Birthday:)

Pancakes

I made pancakes for my little Birthday boy this morning. This is my favorite recipe:

1 cup flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. oil

*Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

*Beat egg with milk and oil in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add flour mixture; beat until well blended and smooth.


*Ladle batter onto hot griddle or into hot skillet, using 1/4 cup of the batter for each pancake


*Cook until bubbles form on top, then turn to brown other sides

pork chops, rice and mixed veggies

I love grilling season! Tonight I grilled pork chops and made rice and veggies with that.

What I used:

4 boneless pork chops

1 bag mixed veggies ("deluxe stir fry")

1 cup of uncooked rice

1 McGormick envelope for pork gravy

*heat grill, season meat (I used pepper and salt this time)

*wash rice and cook as directed (I always add a Tbsp of butter and a dash of salt)

*cook veggies as directed (I like to stir- fry mine most of the time)

*put meat on the grill- cook for about 5-7 min on each side or until cooked through

*make gravy as directed

Cost about $7.50

Chicken Pot Pie

This is my favorite version of this dish:

What you need!

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup Zesty Italian Dressing (I think I use a little more of that)
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup chicken broth (again I use a little more)
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 15-oz. pkg.)



*Heat oven to 375°F.
*Cook chicken in dressing in large skillet on medium heat for about 2 min


*Add cream cheese
*Cook and stir until melted
*Add flour and mix well


*Add broth and vegetables; simmer 5 min


*Pour mixture into deep dish 10-inch pie plate (I don't have one so I used a casserole dish)
*Arrange pie crust over filling; flute edges.
*Cut 4 slits in crust to allow steam to escape.
*Bake for 30 min. or until crust is golden brown.


TADA!
I love this dish because it's so easy and fast to make. The prep time takes about 10- 15 min and then you just let it bake for 30 min.
Cost is about $6.
Enjoy!

I've decided to start blogging about my favorites meals, cakes, desserts,..... The plan is to blog about it as I make it- so here we go!