Cheesy Mostacioli

I made one of my favorite meals last night and it's something my kids love.  I have frozen this before and thrown it in my freezer for a short notice dinner.  Plus, I have delivered this many times to friends needing dinner recovering from surgery or when a new baby arrives.  It is one of my stand bys and I can't believe I haven't put this up on this blog yet. 

Kyle can never remember what a meal is when I say its name.  "Do I like this?" was the response I got last night.  He had 3 helpings so I have to say I think that he does.  I had everything in the house to make this and it takes no time at all to throw together.

We served it with biscuits and a salad.  It was perfect for the one night we are home this week for me to cook. 

Cheesy Mostaccioli

1 box mostacolli noodles, cooked & drained
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 lb hamburger, browned & drained

Mix all together but 1 cup cheese in a large bowl and pour into a 9x13 baking dish.  Cover with remaining cup of cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

 

Hot Onion Dip

I needed something to take to a tailgating party and I search my recipes and found this super easy one to throw together. I wanted to take something hot because we were at someone's house and knew I could put it in a crockpot if I needed to.  I had everything at home and had it in the oven in about 5 minutes.  I was nervous taking it to a big gathering but everyone raved about it.  It smelled AMAZING and had a great flavor.   As you can tell from the photo, someone got to the dip before I had a chance to get my photo.  It came out of the oven with the most amazing crusty top.   
 
 

Hot Onion Dip

2 (8oz) pkg of cream cheese, soft
1/2 cup mayo
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
1 onion chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
 
Combine all ingredients until well combined.  Place in a greased oven safe pan and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve with chips or crackers.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

I found this recipe a few weeks ago and thought it might be something that my kiddos might like.  Plus, there is hardly any breading so maybe hubby will eat it too.  I used the entire bag of frozen chicken tenders that I had and chunked them up.  I doubled the eggs and cornstarch so that I had plenty to cover the chicken in.  But, I didn't do a great job browning it.  I put it in my largest skillet and realized I should have used the chicken fryer.  Plus, I added the vegetable oil after all the chicken was in the skillet and I should have done it first.  But other than all that, it turned out pretty good.  Hubby of course peeled off all the skin but Morgan and Kyle inhaled it.  Lauren had a couple pieces so for me it was a success.  I served it over rice and it was great the next day for lunch. 

I had never battered anything before and my hands were a mess from the cornstarch/egg mix but it was easy and turned out really yummy.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
                                                                     Sauce

3-4 boneless chicken breasts                           3/4 cup sugar

salt & pepper to taste                                     4 tbl ketchup
1 cup cornstarch                                            1/2 c white vinegar
2 eggs, beaten                                               1 tbl soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil                                      1 tsp garlic salt

 Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs. Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour but turn chicken every 15 minutes.  Serve with rice.

 

 

 

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

I had pinned this weeks ago and finally had a chance to try it.  I found it here on Six Sisters Stuff which is a great site that has lots of wonderful recipes.  But I removed a couple ingredients of things we don't like or I didn't have. They were great and even better today warmed up for lunch.  They went perfectly with the ribs we had.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole
6 large russet potatoes
5 slices of bacon
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
salt & pepper to taste.

Peel potatoes and cut into chunks.  Cook in a large saucepan full of boiling water for about 25 minutes like you make mashed potatoes.  Drain and return to pan.  Cook bacon until crisp.  (I cook my in microwave for 5 minutes) Let cool and crumble up.  Mash the potatoes until fluffy.  Add cream cheese, melted butter and sour cream.  Stir until well combined.  Add 1.5 cups cheddar cheese, 2/3 bacon and salt and pepper.  Stir until mixed well.  Transfer to a greased baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese and bacon.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Cinnamon Sugar "Pie "

I remembered my mom making this as a kid but she would use homemade pie crust dough.  I am not much of a baker and pie crust is way out of my depth.  But I saw the refriderated pie crusts in the grocery store the other day and I wanted to try it with my kids.  It was super easy and my youngest would have eaten all of it if I had let her.  But of course I wanted some too.  Turned out perfect and I will be buying the pie crusts again as a special treat.

Cinnamon Sugar "Pie"

Refrigerator pie crust

Sugar

Cinnamon

 

Unroll pie crust on a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan.  Sprinkle sugar to cover the crust.  Top with Cinnamon, as much as you like.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy!!!