Pizza Casserole

My good friend Jamie Hergott has been telling me about pizza casserole for awhile now and I don't know what took me so long to finally make one....but I did...and it's amazing!!! Awesome idea Jamie, I LOVE IT!!

Ingredients: 1 big bag of egg noodles
                   1 Huge jar of Ragu sauce (the biggest one they make)
                   2 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese
                   1 1/2- 2 lbs of ground beef (I'm sure it's good with less meat...but my husband is definitely one of those guys that likes an absurd amount of meat)
                   package of pepperonis
                    1 onion

Directions: Brown the meat and drain the grease. Chop the onion up and stir into meat. Set aside. Cook the egg noodles until done. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 9x13 pan.  Here is the order of layering the ingredients.....
     Layer #1 a THIN layer of sauce
     Layer #2 1/2 of the noodles
    Layer #3 1/2 of the meat/onion mixture
     Layer #4 Sauce (half of what is left)
    Layer #5 the rest of the noodles
    Layer #6 1/2 of the cheese
    Layer #7 rest of the meat
      Layer #8 Rest of the sauce
     Layer #9 Rest of the cheese
  Layer #10 Pepperonis

*Cook for about 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and pepperonis look done.
*Serving size is about 6-8 people
   

Coconut Chicken

I love this recipe because it's the easiest thing in the world to make and it's sweet and tasty.

Ingredients: Boneless, skinless chicken breast (3-4 pieces)
                   1/4 cup melted butter
                  1/2 cup coconut (I always make it an overflowing cup though!!)
                   1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. I always cut the fat off my chicken and wash it. Add the bread crumbs and coconut in a bowl, mix well. Then, brush the chicken with the melted butter. Next, roll the chicken in the mixture until covered well. Bake for about 40 minutes(my chicken breasts were pretty big) or until no longer pink inside.

Almond Joy Pie

This pie is just like the candy! So, if you like chocolate and you like coconut...this is the pie for you! Plus...there is no oven involved...yay!

Ingredients: 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

                  1 cup cream of coconut (you find this in the alcohol section)

                   1 pkg. (3.9oz) of cheesecake flavored instant pudding

                 14 oz. sweetened flaked coconut (put in fridge when you get home)*it's important*

                  2 pkg. (8oz each) of cool whip

                 1 oreo pie crust

                  Hard shell chocolate ice cream topping (or some call it "magic shell")

                  6 pieces of almond joy candy

                  Directions:  Blend the softened cream cheese and cream of coconut until smooth and creamy. Add the pudding mix and beat until blended.

               Next, add 1/2 of the cold coconut. Mix well. Fold in one tub (8oz.) of cool whip.

             Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the oreo crust. Drizzle with the hard shell topping, then pour second half of mixture on top.

             Mix about 3/4 of the remaining coconut with the other tub of cool whip and spread on pie.

       Then, sprinkle the remaining coconut on top of pie and put the almond joy candy on top. Place in refrigerater for about 45 minutes to set.

Mini breakfast bake bites

I love making these! They are really easy and also if you have picky eaters it's nice because you can choose what toppings to put in each one.

Ingredients: 4 eggs
                    1/4 cup half and half
                  1/2 tsp. salt
        Mix ins: anything you like!
                 I used sausage(either buy it cooked or make sure to brown it first), spinach, shredded cheese, chopped onion and chopped mango with garlic (you can find it at walmart buy the carrots...it's already chopped and ready for you.) *But you can choose any toppings you like!
   *it fills 6 cupcakes worth in the pan....so you just need enough to your liking.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Grease cupcake pan pretty good. (you only need 6 spaces)
    Whisk the eggs and half n'half and salt in a bowl. Then, pour evenly into cupcake pan. It makes 6. Next, add whatever toppings you love to each spot. Bake for about 20-25 minutes.

Chicken and Noodles

Perfect time of year for soup. This is a really easy chicken and noodle soup recipe, and it's very good as leftovers. The more you save it, the less "soupy" it gets and the more creamy it gets....even better to me!

Ingredients: 80 oz. of chicken broth. ( I always get a a big one 48oz., and a medium one 32oz. of the swanson or rachel ray brand)
                    1 1/2 cups water
                   some minced garlic
                   carrots, chopped (I would say I used about 20-30 baby carrots cut up?...I never measure!)
                   1 onion
                   1 bag of FROZEN egg noodles (I get the Ramen brand....I might be spelling that wrong)
                    3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thawed.

Directions: Get a huge pot and pour in the chicken broth and water. Start heating it up on medium/high heat. While that's going, cut the fat off your chicken and wash it off, then throw it in the pot. :) Next, chop your carrots and onion. Then, add it to the pot along with the garlic. Then, throw in the frozen noodles. Cook at a low boil. After about 15-20 minutes check to see if the chicken is cooked all the way through. When it is, take the chicken out and cut it up into bite sized pieces, then put it back in pot. The noodles should be done at this point too, but test it to be sure.

*Also, you can add other stuff to it like celery...I've tried that before and it's good...just didn't have any this time.

* Serving size is A LOT!  I'd say about 10 people maybe? Don't forget the leftovers are even better!

Root Beer Pulled Pork

This is another Crock Pot recipe! I love these, they are so easy and delicious too!!

Ingredients: 1 (2lb.) pork tenderloin
                    1 (12oz.) can of root beer
                   1 (18-24 oz.) bottle of BBQ sauce
                   Hamburger buns

Directions: Place the pork tenderloin in a crock pot. Pour the can of root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (or until pork easily shreds with a fork)
            Then, drain the root beer. Shred the pork with a fork and place back in crock pot. Pour BBQ sauce on top and mix well. Serve immediately or keep warm in crock pot until ready.
 
* servings are about 6-8 people.

The BEST salad dressing!

I got this recipe from my mother in law Pam. I am telling you it is the best salad dressing ever! It's a sesame- poppy seed dressing. It goes really well on a spinach salad with pecans, strawberries and feta cheese.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar
                    1/2 cider vinegar
                    1 T. minced onion
                   1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
                    1/4 tsp. salt
                   1 cup olive oil
                  1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted (you buy them toasted)
                   2 T. poppy seeds
                  1/4 tsp. paprika
           *A Blender!

Directions:   Pulse the first 5 ingredients in a blender until smooth. While running, add the olive oil. STIR in seeds. Refrigerate for awhile, then you can leave it out. * Just make sure to shake the dressing good before each pour. :) So YUMMY!!!!