Baked Ziti

Yummy Baked Ziti

This is a quick easy recipe that will fill you up!  If you are a pasta lover you have got to give it a try.  You can also adjust ingredients to your liking.  Oh, and did I mention kids love it too?

Ingredients

• 1 lb cooked shaped pasta (ziti, bowtie, penne, whatever you like)
• 1-2 jars favorite spaghetti sauce ( I use Prego)
• 1 tub ricotta (optional)
• 1 small package of feta
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 2 fresh roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella ( I use moreJ)

Instructions

1. Cook pasta a few minutes under directions, so they won’t be mush after you cook them.  Mix ricotta and garlic salt together and set aside.
2. Lightly layer the bottom of a casserole dish with sauce, then place approximately half of the pasta on top. Layer with all the ricotta mixture, Roma tomatoes, 1/2 of the sauce, feta, more pasta and them the remaining sauce. Top with mozzarella.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees.  Let cool and enjoy!  I like to serve with garlic toast.

Grilled Ham & Cheese

Grilled Ham&Cheese

This is a fast easy meal for kids.  If you don’t have much time to prepare, but still want the kids to have a hot meal, this is the next best thing.  Just like a grilled cheese with meat!  Very kid friendly!

Ingredients

Fun Yummy Party Mix

This recipe is a BIG hit with kids.  It’s a great snack to make and munch on all week!

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) package crispy corn and rice cereal
• 5 ounces slivered almonds
• 6 ounces toasted, chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
• Big bag of M&Ms
• 2 cups of mini pretzels (add more or less for your tasting)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly grease a large roasting pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix crispy corn and rice cereal, slivered almonds, pretzels  and toasted chopped pecans.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and mix with dark corn syrup and light brown sugar. Pour the mixture over the crispy corn and rice cereal mixture. Stir and shake to coat all the nuts and cereal.
4. Pour the coated mixture into the prepared roasting pan. Stirring approximately every 15 minutes, cook 1 hour in the preheated oven. Cool on wax paper.  Once cooled mix in M&Ms.  Store in an air tight container or split in zip lock bags.

Pita Pizza

This is such a fun recipe for kids.  They love to eat it and they can even make it themselves!  My kids get more excited about eating when they help prepare.

Ingredients

• Whole Pita Bread (not sandwich style)
• Pizza Sauce  or Olive Oil

TOPPING IDEAS:

• Pepperoni
• mushrooms
• ham
• onions and peppers
• shredded chicken
• pineapple
• tomatoes (sundried, roasted)
• goat or feta cheese
• spinach

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Place pita bread on a baking sheet
3. Cover with pizza sauce or olive oil and top with your favorite toppings
4. Cook for 4-7 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is slightly crispy on edges

Crock Pot Mac&Chz

CrockPot Mac&Chz

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 eggs (I omitted the eggs)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1.  Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes. Drain. (you can skip this step and put the noodles in hard)
2.  In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts.
3.  In slow cooker, combine cheese mixture and add the eggs (I omitted the eggs), sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper. Add the drained macaroni and stir again.
4.  Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

I always double this recipe!