Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread

Holy cow, this is delish! I love when I find yummy recipes that are actually good on Pinterest.  I adapted this from that recipe "Braided Spaghetti Bread" on the Rhodes rolls website.

Ingredients:

• 12 Rhodes rolls or 1 loaf of Rhodes bread 
• Spaghetti noodles
• Spaghetti sauce
• Hamburger
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into cubes (I honestly just used string cheese!)
• 1 egg white
• garlic bread seasoning from Our Best Bites
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons each of: oregano, basil, marjoram, and parsley
• Combine all ingredients and store in fridge for easy go-to garlic bread seasoning!

How To:

1. Roll out a large piece of parchment paper.  Put your rolls/bread dough on it and let it thaw. It took mine about 5 hours to thaw. 

2. Once thawed, roll out your dough into a 12x16 inch rectangle.  Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

 3. While you are letting your dough set, cook your spaghetti and brown your hamburger.

 4. Let the noodles cool down until they're just slightly warm. Drain the hamburger and then put it back in the skillet and add the sauce.  Warm it up but don't let it get super hot.
5. Place your noodles and sauce in the middle of your dough rectangle. Top with mozzarella cheese cubes.

6. Cut slits in your dough that are about an inch and a half apart. 

7. Braid your dough...  Fold the bottom and top slit in towards the filling. Then braid by putting left over right, then right over left, etc. until you get to the last strip. Then, just tuck it under the folded over dough. 8. Brush with egg white and then sprinkle the garlic seasoning on the top.

9. Transfer your bread loaf to a cookie sheet, parchment paper and all! 

10. Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes making sure your dough is cooked all the way through.

11. Cut and serve. DELISH!

Magic Minute Chocolate Cake!

I had seen lots of different versions of "mug cake" online but thought they all seemed way too good to be true.  Warm, delicious, gooey chocolate cake in just a minute in the microwave? No way...

After reading lots of different recipes, I kind of combined them all into this amazing creation.  It is very versitile and can be adapted to many different cakes based on what candy bar (if any) you use.

Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons sugar
5 Tablespoons four
2 Tablespoons cocoa
A pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
4 Tablespoons milk
4 Tablespoons oil
A splash of vanilla
2 Hershey's kisses (or any mini size candy bar)
2 regular sized mugs or 1 extra large mug

Steps:
1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a mug.
2. Beat the egg in a small bowl and add the other wet ingredients.
3. Pour the egg mixture into the mug and mix the wet and dry ingredients together.
4. If you are using two mugs, divide the mixture so that each mug is half full of batter.
5. Add your Hershey's kisses or candy bar pieces.
6. Microwave each mug for 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds (depending on how gooey or baked you like your cake).  The batter will bubble up and may spill over, so I always put a plate underneath it.
7. Give it a second or two to settle and enjoy! The top will be super gooey still... It's delish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top too.

*I gobbled this down soooo fast, then remembered that I hadn't taken a picture yet. Sorry! :)

Peanut Butter Krispy Treats

Ingredients:

*1 Cup of Sugar

*1 Cup Karo Syrup

*1 Cup Peanut butter

*6 cups rice krispy treats

*Butterscotch chips

*Chocolate chips

Combine sugar and karo syrup in pan. Heat until it dissolves. Stir frequently.

Add peanut butter. Cook till melted.

Take off stove and add to rice krispy cereal in a big bowl (note: I personally thought 6 cups of cereal made it too "rice krispy ish", if that makes sense :) So next time i will only do 5 cups)

Next, butter a pan and spread the treat mixture in, flattening until even.

In microwave melt (or on stove, your choice) half a bag of butterscotch chips and half a bag of chocolate chips. Make sure to watch closely, you dont want to over 'cook' them like I did the first time. Eek.

Now spread yummy chocolately butterscotch mixture on top of krispys. Let it sit so not so messy.

Enjoy!

Taco Soup/ Chilli

Why hello there! I apologize for disappearing for so long! But I promise to be better!!

This recipe is a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

If you love chilli (my family LOVES Chilli) then you have got to try this.

This was the first 'real' food I was able to hold down with my nausea.

Plus its become my familys favorite meal, my toddler eats a bowl of it every time- even with the spicy kick to it.

I double the recipe when I make it, for one- we all eat two bowls for dinner, and two-its wonderful as leftovers.

Ingredients:

*1 Lb Hamburger

*1- 15oz can Pinto Beans (do NOT drain)

*1- 15oz can tomato sauce

*1 15oz can stewed tomatoes (I buy the Rotel Tomoatoes and green chili's instead for added spice)

*1 packet of taco seasoning

*can of corn (optional)

*Jar of salsa

Brown hamburger in a pot (not pan, so you can add ingredients to it), drain.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

Bring to simmer.

Serve!

Easy right?

We love cheese on top served with fritos! Yumm!

ENJOY!!!

French Onion Soup (MiMI's)

I was searching for a French Onion Soup recipe that did not require 3-4 hours to cook.  I finally found one that claims to be the same soup you can find at MiMi's Restaurants all over the nation.  I tried it, loved it and I am now passing it on to you.

1/4 cup butter
3 medium white onions, sliced
3 14-ounce cans beef broth (Swanson is best)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons Kraft grated parmesan cheese
6 to 12 slices French bread (baguette)
6 slices Swiss cheese
6 slices mozzarella cheese
6 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese

You’ve just cloned a batch of the best onion soup from any chain.
Got spoon?

1. Sauté onions in melted butter in a large soup pot or saucepan for 15 to 20 minutes or until onions begin to brown and turn transparent.

2. Add beef broth, salt and garlic powder to onions. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Add the grated parmesan cheese in the last 10 minutes of cooking the soup.

3. When soup is done, preheat oven to 350 degrees and toast the French bread slices for about 10 to 12 minutes or until they begin to brown. When bread is done, set oven to broil.

4. Build each serving of soup by spooning about 1 cup of soup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a toasted slice or two of bread on top of the soup, then add a slice of Swiss cheese on top of that. Place a slice of mozzarella on next and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the other cheeses.

5. Place the soup bowl on a baking sheet and broil for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese begins to brown.

Makes 6 servings.

Caramel Apple Blondies

This is one of my new favorite fall dessert recipes! Enjoy :)

ingredients:

*2/3 cup room temperature butter

*2 cups packed light brown sugar

*2 eggs

*2 tsp vanilla

*2 cups flour

*2 tsp baking powder

*1/2 tsp salt

*1 cup peeled, chopped tart apple (1 large)

*1/2 cup Kraft caramel bits (can use toffee bits)

instructions:
*Preheat oven to 350'
*Spray 9x13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray
*Cream butter and brown sugar in mixer until smooth
*Add eggs and vanilla and beat on medium until combined
*On low, add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until just combined
*Stir in the chopped apples and caramel bits
*Spread in prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes until the center is set
{Picture above is BEFORE the oven ;) }
*Let cool completely before slicing or frosting
{Frosting recipe below--I didn't use frosting}
~brown sugar frosting~

ingredients:

*1/2 cup butter

*1 cup packed light brown sugar

*1/4 cup milk

*2 cups powdered sugar

instructions:

*Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar and milk and bring to boil.

Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes.

*Stir in powdered sugar with a whisk.

*Let cool until it thickens enough to spread.

Wienie-Lottas (Think: Chili Cheese-dog Enchiladas)

~sorry no pics for this one~
I first read the recipe from my sister's mom-in-law and I just about gagged. BUT... it is actually very good & super easy to make!

Ingredients:
8-10 flour torillas
2 cans no-bean chili
1/4 cup minced onions (or a little onion powder)
8-10 hot dogs (I used BEEF dogs. I think Wrangler dogs would be amazing! Use what you like.)
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 can green chilis (Ha! I just realized I used the whole can. Just more spicy I guess)
Shredded cheese

Steps:
Warm tortillas in microwave. Boil hot dogs. Combine chili and onion. Place a hot dog on each tortilla, top with 2 tbsp chili mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and place in 9x13 pan until all the hot dogs/tortillas are rolled up. Mix remaining chili with tomato sauce and green chilis and pour on top of tortillas. Bake at 350' for 25 minutes. Top with cheese and bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chicken Parmesan Skillet Pie

You need:

-28 oz can crushed tomatoes (I used a jar of spaghetti sauce so that my kids wouldn't "know" it was tomatoes) ;)

-1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp ground black pepper

-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (can use a rotisserie chicken)

-1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

-3/4 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

-1 refrigerated pie crust, room temperature

-1 egg white

-1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
-1 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

Then you:

-Preheat oven to 350'

-Pour tomatoes into a 9 inch cast iron skillet. Season with Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper, stirring to combine. Add chicken and stir to cover with sauce. Top with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.

-Unroll pie crust and lay over chicken and cheese. Press edges around the skillet, or tuck inside the skillet. Make a couple small slits in crust.

-Whisk egg white with 1 tsp water and brush over crust. Top with Italian Seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

-Enjoy! :)

THE BEST Baked Mac & Cheese

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:
2 T Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. pepper
Pinch of Ground Cayenne Pepper
2 T Butter
1/4 C. Chopped Scallions
1 1/2 C. Milk
1/2 C. Sour Cream
1 3/4 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 1/2 C. Elbow Macaroni, Cooked.
1/4 Unseasoned Bread Crumbs (for the top)

In a small bowl combine flour, salt, mustard, pepper & cayenne. 
Melt butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.
Add scallions & saute 2 minutes or until softened. Add flour mixture & cook 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook 15 minutes stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 1/2 C. cheese & sour cream. Add Macaroni. Pour in greased baking dish. Top with remaining cheese & sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bread crumbs are lightly browned.

Makes a great dinner or side dish!

-Mary

Quick and Easy Bread Pudding

This was surprisingly delicious and super, duper easy! The best part... I already had all ingredients on hand. :)

Ingredients:
6 slices of bread (I used wheat to try and make it a bit healthy)
Butter
Non stick cooking spray
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk
Cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toast and butter each slice of bread. Cut each slice into even, small squares (9 squares per slice).
3. Put bread in the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Combine sugar and eggs in a medium bowl. Beat well. Add milk and vanilla and stir just a little until its all mixed.
5. Pour egg mixture over bread pieces.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon. You could also add raisins and/or nuts if you want.
7. Bake for 45 minutes.
8. Serve warm. I topped mine with vanilla ice cream and it was DELISH!

Wagon Wheel Supper

Ever have those days where you have no clue what to make for dinner and really, really don't want to go to the grocery store to figure it out? That was me last week. I decided to just open my pantry to see what we had. Staring me down was an almost full box of wagon wheel pasta that I'd had to buy for a 4th grade science experiment. I hadn't know what to do with it, so it'd been sitting on the shelf for quite some time. Today was the day of conquest... so I threw some other random items together and the result was this DELICOUS pot of what I call "Wagon Wheel Supper".



Ingredients:
Wagon wheel pasta (or any other pasta really could work)... I used about 2 1/2 cups

1 pound of chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces

1 jar of salsa

1 bag of frozen corn

5 oz cream cheese, cut into bite sizes pieces

Chili powder to taste (I think I used about 1/4 tsp... Maybe a little more)

Grated cheddar cheese

Steps:
1. Cook and drain pasta. Set aside.
2. While pasta is cooking, cook chicken in a LARGE skillet! (I used the biggest I had and ended up having to transfer it a to a pasta pot because it was overflowing...)
3. Add salsa, corn, cream cheese, and chili powder. Simmer and stir occasionally until the cream cheese is melted all the way.
4. Add pasta to the mix and a handful of cheddar cheese. Stir and simmer until the cheese is melted and it's warm all the way through.
5. Top with more cheddar cheese, but don't stir and just let it melt on top.
6. Grab a large bowl, dish up, and enjoy! :)

Salsa

This is an excellent non-chunky (which I prefer!) salsa recipe. Think Chili's type salsa. Yum!

Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• ¼ cups Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• ¼ teaspoons Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• ½ whole Lime Juice

Instructions:

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel I didn't have any so I just used 2 more cans of tomatoes-it was fine, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Be careful to just do short pulses. The salsa starts to turn a little green if you mix it too much. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

All Day Chicken Noodle Soup

*This fills a 7 quart crock pot to the top.

Ingredients:

4 Cans Campbells Cream of Mushroom w/ Garlic
1 Can Cream of Chicken
4 Large Chicken Breasts (around 2 lbs)
2 Small White Onions
1/2 Bag of Baby Sized Carrots
6 Celery Stalks
2 Boxed Containers of Swanson Low Sodium Chicken Broth (16oz)
Egg Noodles

Directions:

Coat the chicken breasts in a little oil then salt and pepper a little more than you normally would. Roast the chicken breasts for 1 hour 30 minutes in the oven at 350.  When the chicken is done shred it into bite size pieces and set aside.  Cut up the onions, celery and carrots to a size you like.  Mix the broth, cream of chicken and cream of mushroom w/ garlic in the crock pot.  Add the chicken, carrots, onion and celery.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Boil the noodles and add however many you would like right at the end of cooking.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

I usually make this and separate it into 3 batches.  2 go into the freezer and 1 into our bellies right away.  It is also delicious with a dumpling crust.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1-1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 very ripe bananas)
2 cups chocolate chips

*Preheat oven to 400'. Grease cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together and set aside.
*Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
*Bake at 400' for 12-15 minutes.

These cookies are cake-like and very moist... they'll dissapear FAST! :)

Breakfast Burritos

Oh man, these were good. Super simple and something a little different for dinner. We devoured them so quickly that I was only able to grab a pic of the last bite!



Ingredients:
Eggs
Precooked sausage pieces
Potatoes
Oil
Cheddar cheese
Milk
Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)
Tortillas
Ketchup

1. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and cook in a hot skillet with oil. Season to taste and set aside.



2. Cook/reheat the sausage. These Jimmy Dean crumbles were SO good! I highly recommend the turkey sausage. It sounds weird but tastes the same (or better in my opinion)
and is a lot healthier for you.

3. Scramble your eggs. I usually make 6 and always pour a little milk in before cooking to make them fluffy.



4. Combine the potatoes, sausage, and eggs together in a skillet and sprinkle cheddar cheese while stirring. The melted cheese sticks it all together. Season it how you wish.

5. Serve in warm, cooked tortillas with ketchup and more cheese on top.

Taquitos with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans

Isn't that the yummiest thing you've ever seen? Mmmm.

Okay, so for the taquitos head on over to Our Best Bites, their recipe is fabulous.

Sometimes when I'm feeling super ambitious I make my own tortillas. This is the recipe I used (I usually half it though, the lady whose blog I got it from has 9 kids. This is her mother's recipe and her mother is from Mexico)

Tortillas

9 cups of flour

2 tablespoons of salt

2 tablespoons of baking powder

1 cup shortening

3 1/2 to 4 cups warm water

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the shortening and knead until the mixture has a gritty texture. Add water a little at a time and knead dough until it forms a ball. Divide dough into small balls. With rolling pin, roll the dough balls into circles. The tortilla should be thin. Cook tortilla on the hot griddle (comal). Cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes or until lightly brown.

She's an amazing woman. Click here for a link to her blog.

I just saw on Our Best Bites that they too have a tortilla recipe. Gonna have to try that one, they always give great cooking tips.

And now for my FAVORITE part... this part is my very own creation inspired by something I saw once.

Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans

2 giant Sweet Potatoes or Yams, peeled and diced

2 cans black beans

1/2 cup - 1 cup Green Salsa

Put diced Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish at 400 degrees for about an hour or until soft. Combine Sweet potatoes, black beans, and salsa in a pan and simmer for a few minutes.

Then serve it with your taquitos (or enchiladas or anything mexican), sour cream, and avocado.

I think it's my new favorite meal. The only problem with this recipe, is how much I eat when I make it. :)

Chili Frito Delight

Here is a little secret: I made up the name of this dish right now. That is why it isn't very good of a name.


I have thought about this meal a few times the past couple of weeks.  I had all the ingredients handy, just had to find the right day on the menu for it.  We all loved it so that must be a success.  It is a family sized version of chili Frito school lunch.  Wait what?!? You never got this for lunch at school? Well I did and I loved it then too.


Ingredients:

• 1 Can of your favorite chili
• 1 lb of hamburger
• 1 bag of your favorite size of Fritos corn chips
• Toppings: cheese, onions, olives, and sour cream.

Directions:

• Brown hamburger and drain.
• Add can of chili. The consistency should be fairly thick, not soupy.
• Put a handful of the corn chips at the bottom of a bowl, 
• Add chili/hamburger mixture.
• Top with your favorite toppings.
• Pair this with a green salad.
• Enjoy!

Total Prep Time was 15 minutes.

This would make 3-4 moderately sized servings.

For a healthier option use a low sodium/fat chili, ground turkey, baked tortilla chips, low fat cheese and sour cream.

Ravioli Bake :)

Definately adding this recipe to my box... it's quick & easy and both the boys ate it without complaining... how much better can it get, right? :)

WHAT YOU NEED:

*1 jar spaghetti sauce (any flavor)

*14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used basil, garlic & oregano flavor)

*1/2 cup water

*2lbs frozen ravioli (I used 1lb cheese and 1lb beef)

*7 oz shredded Italian Blend cheese

*2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

WHAT TO DO:

*Heat oven to 400'

*Mix spaghetti sauce, tomatoes & water; spoon 1 cup of the mixture onto the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish.

*Layer 1/2 of the ravioli & 1 cup of cheese over sauce.

*Top with other 1/2 of the ravioli & the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top & cover with foil.

*Bake 30 minutes; uncover & bake 15 more minutes or until ravioli is heated through and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese; let stand 10 minutes & enjoy! :)

Easy fried rice

Ingredients:
3 cups of cooked rice (leftovers work wonderfully)
4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
3 eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
Veggies (frozen or canned both work... carrots, peas, pretty much any kind- I just used a can of mixed veggies)
Cooking oil (you really could leave this out if you wanted to make it healthier)
Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce to taste

Directions:
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil. Add the bacon pieces and fry until almost crisp. Add the onion and cook until soft. Move the mixture to one side of the pan. Scramble the eggs in the other side of the pan. Mix the scrambled egg, bacon, and onion together. Add rice and veggies and stir until heated through and until it's as crisp as you like. Add soy sauce or teriyaki sauce until it tastes perfectly.

Chicken Noodle Spaghetti Bake

I didn't get to take a picture of this before we ate it, but I am sure you can picture it in your mind.  I was drawn to this recipe originally because it has all the ingredients I have in my pantry, food storage and freezer in it.  Which is the type of recipe I look for all the time.  It was good and is a recipe that can have many different variations.


Ingredients:

• 2 - 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1 Jar/Can of your favorite pasta sauce
• 2 Cups of shredded cheese
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1/2 a box of spiral pasta
• Salt & Pepper to taste.

Directions:

• Grille, Sautee or Poach the chicken then shred it.
• Sautee the onions until soft.
• Cook the noodles to package instructions, but drain and stop the cooking process right before they are fully cooked.
• Mix the jar of pasta sauce, 1 cup of the cheese, the noodles and the shredded chicken.
• Put it all in a greased 9 x 9 casserole dish and cover with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes on 350 degrees.
• Makes 4 good sized portions and great with garlic bread and a salad.