Italian Rigatoni

1 (12 ounces) Package Rigatoni
1 1/2 pounds Italian Sausage, Cut into 1-inch Pieces
1 Large Onion, Chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
2 Cans (14.5 ounces) Italian Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
1/4 Cup Cilatro, Chopped
1 Teaspoon Basil Leaves
1 Teaspoon Thyme leaves
Salt and Pepper, To Taste
3 Tablespoons Butter

In a large skillet, cook sausage until brown. Add onion and garlic and sauté with sausage. Add tomatoes, cilantro, basil, thyme, salt, pepper and butter. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over rigatoni pasta. Garnish with cheese of choice-Mozzarella and/or Parmesan.

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

1 Package Supreme Stew Meat
1 Can Beef Broth
2 Cups Fresh Mushrooms, Sliced
1 Medium Onion, Finely Chopped
1 Tub Onion & Chive Cream Cheese
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2/3 cup Sour Cream
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
Bow Tie Pasta

Place stew meat in crock pot and season well with Lawry's or your choice of seasoning salts. Add beef broth, mushrooms and onion. Cook on low all day. One hour prior to eating, mix softened onion and chive cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and Worcestershire sauce into the crock pot. (If mixture still needs thickening, add corn starch) Serve over bow tie pasta.

Penne Pasta Casserole

I found this recipe on this blog: http://2kidsandtiredcooks.blogspot.com/. I made it last night for dinner. It was a huge kid friendly meal, not to mentions super fast and easy to make. I think all of my kids had at least seconds on this dish. We are a meat family and so I did add a pound of sausage which is different from the orignial recipe.

1 Package of Penne Pasta, Cooked and Drained

1 Pound Sausage, Browned and Drained

1 Jar of your favorite Pasta Sauce (about 2 cups)

Dried Basil

Garlic Powder

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Cook the penne pasta according to the package direction. Drain. Meanwhile in a pan, brown sausage and drain. Add pasta sauce to sausage. Stir in dried basil and garlic powder to taste. Stir in drained pasta. Also stir in grated Mozzarella Cheese. Put in a casserole dish and bake in the oven at 350 for about 25 minutes or until heated through.

Microwave Macaroni & Cheese

My mom made this when I was growing up. I loved it then and still continue to enjoy this as a meal. My kids are in seventh heaven when I make this. It is a great comfort food.

2 Tablespoons Margarine
2 Tablespoons Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1 1/2 Cups Milk
1 1/2 Cups Cheddar Cheese, Grated
3 Cups Elbow Macaroni, Cooked
5 Oz. Can Vienna Sausages, Diced

Put butter in a 1 1/2 quart microwave safe casserole dish. Microwave on high for 45 seconds to 1 minute until butter is melted. Add flour, salt and pepper to butter. Add milk, slowly. Microwave on medium high (level 8) for 6-7 minutes or until sauce thickens. Stir in cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Stir in Vienna sausages and cooked macaroni. Return to microwave. Cook on medium high (level 8) for an additional 3-4 minutes.

Garlic Chicken Farfalle

I got this recipe off of Becky Higgins website and am anxious to give it a try.

16 oz. Farfalle Pasta
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
3-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 to 3 Cloves Garlic, Crushed OR Garlic Salt
1 Tablespoon Pepper (it sounds like a lot of pepper, but it has a wonderful flavor when everything mixes together.)
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Pound Bacon, Crumbled
1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 (12 oz) Lawry's Mesquite Marinade with Lime Juice

Crock pot chicken and bottle of marinade on low for 6 hours. Pull marinated chicken out of the juices, allow to cool a bit, and shred. Set this aside. About a half-hour before serving, boil the pasta. In a small saucepan, melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, Parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon. Whisk together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir through. Sprinkle a bit more shredded Parmesan cheese on top.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Tonight we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. My DH had them at a family friends when he was growing up. He only had them there once but still remembers how great they were to this day. This meal has now become my oldest son's, Sam's, favorite meal.

Meatballs:
18 Single Saltine Crackers, Crushed
2 Eggs
1 Pound Hamburger
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
2 Tablespoons Parsley
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Oregano
Dash of Pepper
Combine and form into balls. Brown and add to sauce mixture cook for 30 minutes.

Sauce:
3/4 Cup Onion, Chopped
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 (1 Pound Cans) Crushed Tomatoes
2 (6 oz. each) Tomato Paste
1 Cup Water
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
1 1/2 Teaspoon Oregano
1 Bay Leaf
Combine and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Add meatballs and simmer for 30 more minutes. Serve over spaghetti.

To make a complete meal, serve with green salad and garlic bread.