Manwich Tater Tot Casserole

1 lb ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 1/2 c. frozen corn
1 can Manwich
1 bag mexican blend cheese
56 tater tots

Preheat oven to 350. Brown meat with pepper and onion in lg skillet. Drain. Add corn and stir just until warmed. Add Manwich and combine. Pour into 9 X 13 casserole dish. Top with cheese. Top with tater tots. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Sicilian Rice Casserole

* 2 cups uncooked long grain rice
* 2 garlic and cheese flavored sausage links, casing removed
* 1 lb) 93% lean ground turkey
* 1 onion, chopped
* 5 oz frozen peas
* 16 oz tomato sauce (I used Classico Roasted Garlic)
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
* 4 tbsp seasoned breadcrumbs, divided
* 2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella


Cook rice in water according to package directions. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, sauté sausage meat; cook until brown. Add turkey and onions and cook until browned. Add peas and 8 oz tomato sauce and simmer on low, covered, about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl combine rice, parmesan, eggs, and 4 oz tomato sauce and mix well. Rice will be a bit sticky.

Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray, making sure to spray sides too. Add 2 tbsp breadcrumbs to the dish and roll around to coat the bottom and sides.

Take half of the rice mixture (a little more if needed) and cover the bottom of the dish and up the sides; press to form the bottom layer.

Layer the meat mixture on top.

Sprinkle mozzarella on top. Top with remaining rice and press until even. Top with remaining 4 oz of sauce, remaining 2 tbsp breadcrumbs, and remaining mozzarella.

Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes. Cut into 16 pieces.

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

I made a huge batch of this so that I would have some frozen to make after the baby comes :-). So here is what I did:

8 lb pork shoulder
4 onions, sliced
2 c. ginger ale
36 oz. bbq sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)

Place 2 of the sliced onions on the bottom of your slow cooker. Place pork shoulder on top of onions, then top with remaining onions. Pour ginger ale over roast. Cook on LOW for 18 hours. That's right, you heard me, 18 HOURS!

At the end of the cooking time, remove the roast. Strain and save any remaining onions and discard the liquid. Using 2 forks, shred the meat, discarding any remaining fat, bones or skin.

Return shredded meat and onions to slow cooker. Add BBQ sauce. Cook on LOW for another 4 to 6 hours (I did 6).

Serve on buns with cheese and a little additional BBQ sauce.

This made enough pulled pork for about 10 sandwiches!

Venus De Milo Soup

1 lb hamburger or ground turkey (I used turkey)

Fry quickly and drain fat

Add

48 oz carton of chicken broth
2 c. water
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
8 oz tomato sauce
16 oz frozen mixed veg (I used the one with peas, carrots, corn, green beans, and lima beans)
2 T. margarine

Bring to a boil, then add

1 c. orzo

Boil for 10 minutes, then reduce to a simmer and simmer 20 minutes more.

Serving suggestion: top with grated parmesan cheese!

By Request...

Chili Cheese Dip

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 can chili (I prefer the type without beans for this recipe)
1 bag mexican blend cheese

In a casserole dish, spread the cream cheese into an even layer. Pour the chili over the cream cheese. Top with mexican cheese. Bake in 350 oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.


Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed out
1 14.5 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered (or 10 oz frozen/thawed & drained)
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
1 Cup Mayonnaise
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 scallions, sliced thin
1/2 Cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 Cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded


Mix spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, may, garlic, scallions, and 1/2 of the cheeses in a large mixing bowl.

Pour mixture into a baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or vegetables.

I'm back!

So, no posts because for the first 5 months of my pregnancy, I have been just too exhausted to cook. Although I am still tired on school nights, I am finally at the point that I can muster up the energy to cook a real dinner on the weekend. Tonight I made my husband incredibly happy by making his favorite: Chicken Parmesan.

Chicken Parmesan

Flour
2 eggs
Breadcrumbs
Parmesan Cheese
2 T olive oil
2 T margarine or butter
1 lb thin-sliced chicken breast (or you can save money by buying regular chicken
breasts and pounding them yourself. You want them to be about 1/4" thick.)
1 jar of your favorite sauce (I used Classico Roasted Garlic)
8 oz bag of Italian blend cheese (I usually use Sargento, but this time had to use
Kraft)
Pasta of your choice

1. In 3 different plates or shallow bowls place one of the following: flour, 2 eggs (beaten), and breadcrumbs mixed with parmesan cheese.
2. Heat a large skillet with about 2 T olive oil and 2 T margarine.
3. For each piece of chicken: dredge in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs and place in skillet. Turn after about 1 minute. After another minute, remove from the pan. (We are not trying to cook them all the way through, just brown up the outside).
4. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 13 X 9 baking dish. Place chicken in dish. Top with remaining sauce (I usually put just a little bit aside for Jim's pasta, then put the rest of the sauce on the chicken). Top with cheese. Cover with aluminum foil (make sure the aluminum foil is not touching the cheese).
5. Bake in 350 oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 10 more minutes.

You can make your pasta while the chicken is baking. I used the Ronzoni Garden Pasta, which has a full serving of veggies in each serving of pasta.

Enjoy!

Peanut Chicken Lo Mein

I've been sick for over two weeks, so I haven't posted in a long time. The other night I made this recipe (I adapted it from another one) and thought I would finally share it.

Peanut Chicken Lo Mein (2 servings)

4 oz. rice noodles

4 t. corn starch

½ c. peanut butter

6 T soy sauce

Vegetables (I use a red pepper and a yellow onion) sliced thin

2 chicken breasts (about 4 oz each) cut into small pieces

Cover rice noodles in water and soak according to package directions.

While noodles are soaking, mix together corn starch, peanut butter, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large skillet, heat 1 T of vegetable oil to medium high heat. Add sliced vegetables and stir-fry until just translucent. Add chicken pieces to the pan and cook until chicken is heated through. Add sauce and cook until sauce thickens and begins to simmer.

Drain noodles and add to pan. Mix all together and cook until noodles are softened to desired consistency.