Pasta Cheeseburger Soup

We had an unusual cold front and the high today was in the mid 50s. It was a welcome change, but we were pretty used to the warm and sunny conditions we'd been enjoying for quite some time! I was bound and determined to make soup tonight and it needed to be pretty simple. This recipe fit the bill!!

Pasta Cheeseburger Soup

1 lb. ground beef
NOT 1/2 cup chopped onion (though I did cook the hamburger with minced garlic)
3 cups water
1 can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 can condensed tomato soup, undiluted (I substituted a can of tomato paste)
3 T dill pickle relish
1 cup uncooked small shell pasta
*I also added a can of petite diced tomato

In a large saucepan, brown beef and NOT onion over medium heat, drain. Stir in water, soups, and relish. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add pasta. Cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.

*We garnished with shredded cheddar and a few dill pickle chips. Thought it would be pretty novel to serve with toasted hamburger buns, too! We had French bread--it tastes much better!



(Serves 6-8)
(www.mixingbowl.com)

PB&H Extreme

This one I've been anxious to make and I'm glad I finally got around to it! I really don't see how it could go wrong, with these ingredients. I was right--delish!

2 slices whole wheat bread, toasted (I only used one and made mine open faced)
2 T chunky peanut butter banana slices honey, for drizzling
ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
2 slices crispy cooked bacon

Spread 1 slice toast with the peanut butter. Top with banana slices. Drizzle with honey, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Top with bacon and remaining slice of toast. Cut into triangles and eat. Mmmmmm Mmmmmmm! The boys asked for another and we gobbled these up!

(Rachael Ray magazine)

Baked Oatmeal-Crusted Tilapia with Lemon Mayo

I try to keep tilapia fillets in the freezer because Riley will gobble this fish up. Salmon, not so much. It's a pretty family friendly fish, so I'm always looking for something new to do with it. The oatmeal in this one intrigued me, so I went for it...and it was gobbled up!

Baked Oatmeal-Crusted Tilapia with Lemon Mayo

4 whole tilapia fillets (fresh or frozen)
2 cups quick oats (I think 1 cup would be plenty, I had a lot to throw away)
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
NOT 1 T fresh chives
2 T parsley (I actually used dill...and less than 2T)
salt and pepper to taste
4 T lowfat mayo
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 tsp lemon juice

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone liner. Defrost/rinse fish and pat dry. Place fish fillets on the baking sheet.

In a bowl, mix together oats, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, NO chives, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. In separate bowl, measure out mayo before adding lemon rind and juice. Stir.

Spoon mayo onto tops of fish and top with dry coating.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes when forked.

I served this one with asparagus and maple glazed carrots.

(Serves 4)
(www.tastykitchen.com)

Kickin' Chicken

I found this recipe while browsing PW's Tasty Kitchen. It seemed simple enough, with ingredients I usually have on hand (except the jerk seasoning, which I couldn't find at the store, so I used a Cajun spice from my cabinet--Slap Yo Mama!). I left out the red pepper flakes because the boys were eating it with us and the BBQ sauce and the seasoning made it spicy, but not too spicy for the boys).

It was great, we were pleased, and we even had an unexpected visitor for dinner that night and he loved it too. There wasn't a bite left. I consider that successful!

I even think this would be great as a marinade and grilled. I'll try that next time.
After we refill the propane tanks!!

Kickin' Chicken

8 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I cut 4 in half)
1 cup crushed pineapple, not drained
1/2 cup KC Masterpiece Origianl BBQ sauce
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp Jamaican Jerk seasoning (I used Slap Yo Mama)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place all chicken breasts in 9x13 baking dish. In medium bowl, mix all other ingredients well then pour over top of chicken breasts. With a fork, poke holes in chicken breast, making sure to pick up chicken so sauce coats all around and also is underneath during baking. Bake in oven approximately 35 minutes.

(Mine just a little dry, probably because I cut the breasts in half and should've baked them a little less.)

I served with roasted cauliflower and asparagus. That was gobbled up too!

Easy Mufuletta

This is one of my favorite sandwiches at Jason's Deli. I've had this recipe in my files for a while and could kick myself for not pulling it out sooner. Easy and delicious, loved by everyone!

Easy Muffuletta

2 12 inch Italian bread shells (I used Boboli, and just one, cut in half for the 3 eaters in my house and there were leftovers)
1 T olive oil
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 16 oz jar of olive salad, drained (I couldn't find any in a jar, but was lucky to find some at the olive bar in my grocery's deli)
2 oz sliced provolone cheese (maybe about 4-5 slices for my half a muff!)
2 oz sliced ham
2 oz sliced salami

Place one bread shell on baking sheet. Brush crust with some of the olive oil. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bread shell.


Top with olive salad, provolone, ham, and salami. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Brush second bread shell with remaining olive oil. Put second shell, olive oil side down, on top of the first shell to make a giant sandwich.




Put a sheet of foil on top of the crust. (Just lay it on top, don't tuck it in or wrap it up).

Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until heated through and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and cut into wide triangular slices (with a pizza cutter!).


Big hit at my house...especially with me. I served it with fruit salad and we were good to go. I even had some for lunch the next day.

(Serves 8)
(From www.mixingbowl.com)



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Spiced Tea

This is a recipe from my sweet little Nana. I vividly rememer the hours I spent in her kitchen watching her cook, cooking with her, and eating her delicious meals. It was a wonderful place, so full of memories, smells, and happy times.

I lost my Nana about a year ago, she was 90 years young, but my memories in the kitchen with her live on.

Nana would make Spiced Tea when the weather started to cool off and we would drink it until it was gone. I obviously didn't drink coffee as a child, but it made me feel like such a grown up to be drinking something in a coffee cup! I love the smell, the taste, and especially the warm and happy feelings this recipe brings me.

I've never made it before, she always saved me a jar when she made it. I've been missing her and I made it with my family, to hopefully continue this tradition in our home. We miss you, Nana!

Some mornings, Riley asks for some Spiced Tea to drink in the car on the way to school. That's a huge step for a big hot chocolate fan!

Spiced Tea

1 18 oz. jar Tang (wow...they still make this stuff?)

1 cup instant tea (I had a hard time finding any without lemon)

2 1/2 cups sugar

20 oz. can lemonade

2 tsp. ground cloves

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Blend all together in large container and store tightly. Nana would always use the Tang and lemonade containers to store hers in and give as a gift in a Mason jar. Enjoy! (Nana's recipe says 2 teaspoons per cup. That was never enough for me, I use 2-3 tablespoons.)

Dorito Casserole

This was comfort food at it's finest. Or worst. However you choose to look at it. My boys loved it and my in-laws did too! It was quick, easy, and definitely kid friendly. And I'm warning you, it's not pretty, but I'm posting photos anyway.

Dorito Casserole

1 pound ground beef

1 pkg taco seasoning

NOT 1 small onion, chopped

1 can fiesta nacho cheese soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 10 oz. can Rotel (undrained)

1 12 oz. bag Doritos, crushed

1 8 oz pkg. shredded cheese

*Next time I make this I will add some corn and black beans!*

Sour cream

Salsa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large skillet, brown ground beef and NOT onion; drain. Add taco seasoning and cook according to package directions.

In 3 quart baking dish, layer bottom of dish with half of crushed chips. Set remaining chips aside. In large bowl, combine seasoned beef mixture, nacho cheese soup, mushroom soup, and Rotel. Mix well. Top c hips with beef mixture. Layer with remaining chips and top with cheese.

Bake 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top servings with sour cream or salsa, if desired.

See, definitely a hit, even though it's not pretty.

(Serves 8)

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