Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

1/2 of a 16 oz pkg linguine or your choice of pasta
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli florets
2 Tbs butter
1 lb boneless skinless chicken, cut into pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

Heat butter in skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.

Meanwhile prepare pasta according to package. Add broccoli during last 4 minutes of pasta cooking time. Drain Pasta and broccoli well.

Stir soup, milk, Parmesan, pepper, pasta and broccoli into skillet. Cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.

Serve with additional Parmesan.

sidenote: my family loved this. I think the kids even ate a little broccoli without realizing! {not all of course, but some!}

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

1 pint heavy cream
1 stick REAL butter {not margarine}
2 Tbs cream cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan
1-2 cloves garlic {1 big or 2 small} crushed, pressed or finely chopped
salt and pepper

Directions:

Melt the butter slowly in the pan, add the garlic and then bring the temperature up to just above medium low heat, allowing it to fry a bit. Stop the frying and bring the temperature back down to medium low before the Butter browns.

Add the heavy cream and cream cheese and season with salt and pepper

Stir frequently until cream cheese is all melted When you do not see any more solids add Parmesan, turn heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve over your favorite pasta.

Chicken Tetrazzini

1/2 lb spaghetti/Alfredo noodles/ linguine etc.
1 lb boneless skinless chicken - cubed
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
4 oz cream cheese - cubed
1/4 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
3 Tbs Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella

Directions


In a large skillet add chicken and mushrooms, cook for 8 minutes stirring frequently. Remove mixture from skillet, put in bowl, cover and place in microwave to keep warm.

Start cooking pasta according to package.

Place cream cheese, flour and broth in skillet. Turn heat on medium high and whisk until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

Drain pasta and add chicken mixture, cream cheese mixture and 2 Tbs of the Parmesan. Mix well. Heat through and serve topped with remainder of Parmesan & Mozzarella.

sidenote: or just forget to save some cheese to serve on the top and cook it all in, tastes good to me!

Homemade Mac & Cheese {EASY!!}

2 cups elbow mac
1 cup grated cheddar

Directions

Prepare noodles according to package. Drain. Add Cheese and stir until melted.
Serve Immediately.

Pasta E. Fagioli {the soup}

1/2 pound lean ground beef
3/4 tsp olive oil
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1/4 of a bag of baby carrots, chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
1 24 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can drained red kidney beans
2 cans beef stock
3/4 tsp. oregano
3/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups Ditalini {Salad Macaroni} pasta, cooked and drained


Directions

Brown the ground beef in the oil in a skillet, until crumbly. Stir in carrots, onions, celery, and undrained tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes. Rinse and drain the kidney beans, then stir into the beef mixture. Stir in stock, oregano, pepper, parsley, and Tabasco sauce. Simmer for 45 minutes until celery and carrots are tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce and pasta.


Serving Suggestions

bread sticks, in a bread bowl, with crumbly bread, or even just cheese and crackers.

FYI: I have done this in the slow cooker. adding everything but the pasta and spaghetti sauce and letting it cook 4-6 hours on low then adding cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce just before serving.

sidenote: Personally I didn't like it as much when I didn't add all the onion it called for and I like it even better when it's thick and not soupy.  {Add more spaghetti sauce and less broth}

Heavenly Chicken Pasta

4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1 can sliced mushrooms
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 lb. linguine, uncooked
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Mix cream cheese, soup, dressing and mushrooms until well blended; pour over chicken in slow cooker. Cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours (or on HIGH 2 to 3 hours).

Cook pasta as directed on package about 15 minutes before chicken is done; drain.

Serve topped with chicken mixture and parsley.

Garlic Creamed Chicken

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
4 oz cream cheese - softened
2 cloves garlic - minced

Directions

Combine ingredients in slow-cooker and cook for 3-4 hours on high.

Serve over rice or noodles.

side note: I shredded my chicken once it was cooked to serve more people!

Angels Pasta

 
8 oz angel hair pasta
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 Tbs olive oil
1 or 2 zucchini sliced
3 tomatoes - chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste
Basil
Mozzarella Cheese

Directions 

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in oil and saute garlic until golden. Stir in zucchini, salt and pepper. Mix in tomato, cover and simmer on low heat.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes; drain.

Season vegetables with basil right before mixing with pasta. 

Combine pasta and vegetables. Serve topped with mozzarella.

Van's Macaroni Salad

1 cup salad macaroni
1/2 cup miracle whip
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 chopped green onions

Directions

Prepare pasta according to package. Rinse with cold water and add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Chill.
Sprinkle with Paprika before serving.

Tomato Mac

1 lb ground beef
2 cups elbow macaroni
1/2 an onion minced
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can of milk
1 can tomato sauce
1 jar tomatoes

Seasonings:
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
salt
chili powder
pepper

Directions

Prepare macaroni according to package. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in soup, milk, sauce and tomatoes. Drain macaroni; stir into beef mixture and season to taste.

Cook until heated through.

side note: very versatile. More often than not I don't make this exact recipe. No onion? add onion powder, no tomatoes? add salsa. Just play with it...

see the picture? I didn't have enough elbow so we used egg noodles!

Grandma's Filipino Salad {My Way}

 4 cups salad macaroni
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 can crushed pineapple
4 green onions - chopped
1 green pepper - chopped
3 stalks celery - chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup miracle whip

Directions

Prepare pasta according to package. Rinse with cold water and add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Chill before serving.

side note: Grandma adds imitation crab, shrimp, and chicken. Jason doesn't like seafood and I'm too lazy to prepare the chicken.

She also adds a little sugar to the dressing... too sweet for us.

Spaghetti a la Philly

3/4  lb.  spaghetti noodles, uncooked
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
2 T Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

Cook spaghetti as directed on package.
Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet. Stir in sauce and cream cheese; cook on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until sauce is well blended and heated through, stirring frequently.
Drain spaghetti. Add to sauce; mix lightly. Place on platter; top with Parmesan.

side note: thanks to Love My Philly!

Jason's Special Sauce

2 cans tomato sauce
2 heaping TBS sour cream
1/8 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 cup grated cheddar
1/5 cup grated Parmesan
1TBS cornstarch
Spaghetti noodles {or your choice of pasta}

Directions

Combine all ingredients {minus cheeses} in sauce pan.
Cook on med/high heat until hot. Stir in Parmesan and cheddar until mostly melted.
Dissolve cornstarch in 2 TBS ice water, then whisk into boiling sauce. Simmer the sauce at least 15 minutes {plenty of time to boil noodles!} to allow the starch to work.

side note: Yes, Jason came up with this recipe on his own. {Although he was a little put out that I made him measure how much of each ingredient he adds!} Every time he makes it I am amazed at how well Bracken eats dinner. He LOVES it.

Lasagna Casserole

8 oz egg noodles
½ lb ground beef
¼ cup chopped onion
1 TBS oil
Seasonings: garlic, oregano & chili powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 TBS Parmesan
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup grated Mozzarella

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Grease 9x13 baking dish.

Cook noodles 10 minutes.

Brown hamburger in oil with onion & seasonings.

Add cooked noodles, sugar, salt, sauce, Parmesan & cheddar.

Pour into pan, cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.

Remove foil, spread grated Mozzarella and bake 10 more minutes uncovered.

sidenote: made this as a one skillet meal - no baking in the oven. LOVED it much better than the 'casserole'

Goulash

1 lb hamburger
1 small onion
1 can tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1/8 tsp salt

1 can tomato soup

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni

brown sugar to taste

Directions

Brown hamburger and onion seasoning well. Add all other ingredients.

side note: this was our first time with this one.  It was good, but next time I will add a can of tomato soup {it didn't call for it at all}  and only do 1 cup of macaroni {it called for 2}

Dad's Lasagna

1/2 lb ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

9 Lasagna noodles

16oz tub cottage cheese

3 eggs

2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese



Directions

Cook noodles. Brown ground beef (I season mine with lemon pepper, onion powder & garlic powder); Mix spaghetti sauce and ground beef. In a separate bowl mix eggs and cottage cheese. In a 2 quart baking dish layer: noodles, sauce, cottage cheese mixture then cheese. Repeat layering, ending with cheese. Cover tightly with foil.  Bake at 375 F for 1 hour.

Serving Suggestions

I serve with salad and garlic bread.  YUM! :)
 
 
side note: I had half a jar of spaghetti sauce in my fridge so I used that and added a jar of my canned tomatoes to the sauce seasoning with Italian seasoning, onion & garlic powder.

Oriental Style Chicken Noodle Soup

3 cups water
2 cans chicken broth
2 packages chicken-flavor ramen noodles
2 cut up chicken breasts
2 stalks chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion

Directions


In a large pot, saute celery and onion in olive oil.  Add chicken, carrots, water and broth.  Bring to a boil then simmer on medium low heat for 20 minutes.  Stir in noodles and seasoning packets. Cook for 3 more minutes {or till noodles are done how you like em.}


Serving Suggestions

In a bowl!

Creamy Bacon & Ranch Chicken

6 slices bacon
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces
3 Tablespoons flour

3 Tablespoons ranch dry salad dressing mix
2 cups milk
3 cups dried medium noodles

1 Tablespoon finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Start your water for your pasta. Cook noodles according to package directions.

Bake bacon until crisp. Drain bacon {discard all but 2 Tablespoons drippings} on paper towels and cut into bite size pieces;

Cook chicken in reserved drippings until no longer pink, turning to brown evenly. Sprinkle flour and salad dressing mix over chicken; stir well to coat the chicken. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in bacon. 

Serving Suggestions

Ladle chicken over noodles and  sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Served with a side of veggies.