Zucchinni Linguini

Zucchini Linguini
This is a quick and easy dish I made up while trying to think of something good to make with our zuchinni and yellow squash.  There are other dishes out there with this name, but this is something that I came up with on my own, and our family loves it.

(This is not my picture by the way, but my dish looks just like this) 
Ingredients:
2-3 Tbspns of olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3-4 tspns Italian seasoning (We like Mrs. Dash's Italian blend)
1 medium fresh zucchini sliced
1 medium fresh yellow squash sliced
1 can rotel diced tomatoes and green chilis: Mild
4 oz. cream cheese softened (you may leave this out to lighten the recipe)
1 pkg of Linguini noodles
1 tsp salt (may need more depending on your taste)
Parmesan cheese to taste
     
1. Cook the linguini according to package directions while cooking the rest of the dish.
2. Heat the olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning in a large skillet. Add the rotel tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash, and saute about 5-7 minutes.
3. Blend in the cream cheese with the oil and vegetables until sauce is smooth and creamy. Let simmer on medium low about 5 minutes or until vegetables are just cooked. (Soft, but not wilted, with still a slight firmness to their bite)
4. Drain the cooked linguini noodles and combine with the vegetables and sauce.
5. Serve with parmesan cheese if desired.

Turkey Salad Croissants

My sister called me and requested this recipe. I had forgotten I had it, I haven't made it so long. I was in shock to find out that she actually liked something I made ;-)

2 cups diced cooked turkey
1/2 cups chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup coarsely chopped radishes
2 Tbs. chopped green onions
2 Tbs. diced pimientos
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. salt
lettuce leaves
6 croissants

In a bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Place lettuce and 2/3 cup turkey salad mixture on each croissant.

* I always leave out the radishes and pimientos but so you know they are in the recipe in case you like that stuff

Easy Dinner

Maybe you have tried this or something similar. Our friends insisted on making us dinner after Nathan was born. This is what they made, so yummy!

Salad greens
Bow tie noodles, cooked
Chicken, cooked with ground pepper and cut into strips
Croutons
Parmesan cheese
Salad Dressing---poppy seed's our favorite


Layer the ingredients just like that on your plates. Easy and yummy!

Meat Loaf Cups

I love this idea, meat loaf cups! It's a lot fast to cook than meat loaf and easy to freeze!

This is a recipe for a pizza meat loaf, Johnny loved it!

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup pizza sauce (I used tomato sauce and added a little more Italian seasoning)
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I used oatmeal)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl, combine first four ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Place in greased muffin tin, press onto the bottom and up the sides. Fill center with cheese.

Bake 375 for 15-18 minutes or until meat isn't pink. Serve immediately or cool and place in freezer bags for 3 months.

To use frozen pizza cups: thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours. Heat in microwave 2-3 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen

Sloppy Joe

So I've been making a lot of freezer meals lately to get ready for baby. So I'm going to share a few of them.

This was super yummy. We ate half and froze the other half.

2 lbs. ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups ketchup
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbs. prepared mustard
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
Hamburger buns

In a large skillet, cook beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, Italian seasoning, onion powder and peeper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes.

Serve about 1/2 cup meat mixture on each bun. Or cool and freeze for up to 3 months.

To use frozen sloppy joes: thaw in fridge, place in a saucepan and heat through. Serve on buns.
Yield: 12 servings (about 6 cups)

Mexican Casserole

I was looking for something quick and easy for dinner the other night and found this on allrecipes. I adapted it a little and it turned out really good.

• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 3/4 onion, diced
• 5 (10 inch) flour tortillas---I only used 3
  
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• tomato
• olives
• 2 green onions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch pie pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a saucepan, cook refried beans and onions (to soften them) on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
3. Place one tortilla in the bottom of the greased pan. Spread about 1/3 cup of the bean mixture over it. Layer a few tablespoons of salsa over this. Then, place another tortilla over the salsa, and add more of the bean mixture. Follow the beans with a big handful of cheese, spreading evenly. repeat layers, spreading the ingredients evenly over the tortillas. On the top layer, make sure to use lots of salsa and cheese!
4. Bake until the cheese is melted, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

**I put a tomato, olive and cheese between each layer and green onions on top. **

Fried Tortilla's

My sister Tiffany sent this to me. Really good and simple! They almost remind me of Jack in the box taco's.

1 lb. hamburger meat
small corn tortilla's
favorite meat seasoning (she uses McCormick's all season mix)

Blend seasonings into meat. Roll meat into long, not too fat worms. Take your tortilla and put it in a pan of hot oil for a minute then turn it and put your meat in and fold over. Cook until meat is done. Let dry on paper towels. Good served with sour cream.

Simple Sunday Stew

I devoloped this as a way to use our food storage-that's why everything's canned. Make sure you don't drain any of the cans before you add them, it makes the broth. You can also use fresh vegetables of course.

1 lb ground beef seasoned with garlic and onion to taste
1 can of sliced carrots
1 can corn
1 can potatoes-quartered
1 can of diced tomatoes-I use the ro-tell brand of "diced tomatoes and green chilis"
I can of cream of chicken soup
2 tsp. beef boullion

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot. Bring to a light boil. You can change this up anyway you like. Use a different kind of meat, add noodles, add whatever seasonings you like.
My family loves this and it's a great way to use all your canned vegetables.

Easy Burritos

The sauce is great and it's easy to make. Hope you like it!

6 frozen burritos
2 Tbs butter
3 Tbs flour
1 3/4 water
1 can (8oz) tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp beef bouillon
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups cheese
1 can olives sliced (opt)
1/3 cup chopped green onions (opt)

Place frozen burritos in a greased 13 x 9 dish; set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually stir in water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, bouillon and salt. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes or until thickened

Pour over burritos. Sprinkle with cheese, olives and onions. Bake uncovered at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Cornbread Casserole

I kinda just made this from a couple recipies I read:

1 Can of Blackbeans
1 Can of diced tomatoes
1 Can of Corn
1 8 oz can of Tomatoe Sauce
6 green onions
1 Tbsp. Cumin
1 tsp. sugar
1 lb Ground Beef
Cornbread mix

Brown the ground beef and drain off the grease.
Drain the blackbeans and rinse. Drain the tomatoes and corn. Put Corn, Tomatoes, and Blackbeans in a large casserole dish. Add tomatoe sauce. Cut up green onions with kitchen shears, add to dish. Add cumin. Add Ground beef. Mix to combine. Sprinkle sugar on top. Make the cornbread mix (some use Jiffy I just made the recipie on the corn meal box)pour evenly on top of mixture.
Preheat oven to 350
Bake for 30 min at least ( I find that time depends upon type of cornbread mix)I start at 30 and go from there.
I hope that you enjoy this!