Taco Pasta Shells

I wrote down this recipe from who-knows-where a long time ago but forgot all about it.  I wish I hadn't!  It's a new family favorite.  Tasty and filling.  All five thumbs up!  (And no judging the photo.  We were in a huge hurry.  Grin.)

1 lb ground beef

3 oz cream cheese

1 t salt

1 t chili powder

18 jumbo shells

2 T butter

1 c taco sauce

1 c shredded cheddar

1 1/2 c crushed tortilla chips

8 oz sour cream

Cook beef in skillet.  Add cream cheese, salt and chili powder.  Mix and simmer 5 minutes.  Boil shells according to package.  Toss cooked shells in butter.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill shells with beef mixture and arrange in 9 x 13; pour taco sauce on top.  Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes.  Add cheese and chips; bake 15 more minutes.  Top with sour cream and serve. 

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

This is a blend of various recipes I've found. I love the garlicy-ness of it. (It's a new word. Try it.) Serve it with my Olive Garden-ish Salad and pretend you're not at home.

6 oz uncooked fettuccine
1 lb chicken breasts, cubed
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ t salt
1/8 t cayenne pepper
1 T butter

Sauce:
1/2 cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 cups milk
6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in large skillet, sauté chicken, onion, garlic, salt and cayenne pepper in butter. Cook until chicken is done. At the same time in a sauce pan, begin the sauce. Melt the 1/2 c butter over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long. Toss with hot pasta and chicken to serve. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan if desired.

Skillet Ravioli

My guys liked this so much they were fighting over who would get the leftovers the next day, and the way my baby girl ate it, she would have fought too if she could talk.

1 lb ground beef
3/4 c chopped green pepper
1 ounce deli ham, chopped
3 c spaghetti sauce
3/4 c water
1 (25-oz) package frozen cheese ravioli
1 c shredded mozzarella

In a large skillet, cook the beef, pepper and ham over medium heat. When done, stir in spaghetti sauce and water; bring to a boil. Add ravioli. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 7 - 9 minutes, stirring once. Sprinkle with cheese and simmer uncovered 1 - 2 minutes.

Easy Vegetable Linguine

If it says "easy," I'm in! It's tasty too, and sometimes I leave out the bacon and just saute the veggies in oil.

6 slices bacon, cut into 1" pieces
1 c broccoli
1/4 c chopped onion
1/2 c cherry tomato halves
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 c sliced fresh mushrooms
3 oz cooked and drained linguine

In a skillet brown bacon. Remove bacon and reserve 2 T drippings in skillet. Add broccoli, onion and mushrooms and saute until crisp-tender (3 - 4 minutes) Add linguine, tomatoes and bacon; mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese and serve. I like to sprinkle mine with garlic powder too.

Stuffed Shells

This is another recipe of my mom's that I love. It's great with salad and garlic bread.

16 jumbo pasta shells, cooked
1 lb ground chuck
1 c cheese, divided
1 can cream of celery soup
milk

Brown beef, drain and rinse. Stir in half of the cheese. Dilute the cream of celery with half a can (the soup can) of milk. Pour enough of the diluted soup mix into the beef and cheese to hold together. Reserve the rest. Fill shells with beef mixture and put in a greased casserole dish. Pour remainder of soup on top and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake long enough to melt.

Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

I found this recipe somewhere without the ham. My guys like it added to it, and it makes a great main dish.

8 oz elbow macaroni
4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 12-0z can evaporated milk
1 ½ c milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 t salt
¼ t pepper
4 slices American cheese
1 package of cubed ham (optional)

Cook the pasta according to package; drain. Mix the cooked pasta, 3 cups cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, milk, eggs, salt and pepper in a greased slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1 c cheddar and arrange American slices on top. Cook, covered, on low for 3 – 4 fours. Do not remove lid or stir while cooking.

Ravioli Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg frozen cheese ravioli
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
1 c mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450. Brown meat, drain. (I like to add mushrooms, onion and garlic while browning.) Add sauce and tomatoes. Spread 1/3 sauce in bottom of a 9x13 pan. Then layer half of the ravioli. Sprinkle on half of the cheeses, then repeat layers of sauce, ravioli, then cheese. End with layer of sauce on top. Cover with foil, bake 30minutes.

Super Easy Chili Mac

This is one of the first recipes I made when I got married. My husband still asks for it even now that I know a bit more about cooking.

1 lb ground beef
a couple of handfuls of macaroni (1/2 c plus?)
1 can diced tomatoes (I like the chili-ready kind)
some water

Brown beef in a skillet. Drain if it’s really greasy. Return to skillet and add macaroni, tomatoes, and water if it looks too dry (maybe ¼ - ½ cup). Cover and simmer until macaroni is tender (8 – 10 minutes). Super easy!

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

I made this ahead and froze it when I was expecting my last baby. We all enjoy it, and it makes plenty.

2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion
garlic, if desired
1 t salt
¼ t pepper
Cook all until done. Drain

1 (7 oz) pkg. spaghetti, broken into pieces.
Cook and rinse with cold water.

When cooled, add two beaten eggs and ¾ c milk. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
Layer as follows:
Spaghetti
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
Hamburger
38 Pepperoni slices
¾ c mushrooms
2 c mozzarella
Parmesan
Bake at 350 or 40 – 45 minutes. Cover for the first 25 minutes.