Pork Chop Casserole

Jesse was teasing me the other day that when we first got married I often cooked the same meals each week. Now that I think about it, it's true. So to make myself feel better I am posting a few recipes I have picked-up over the years.

PORK CHOP CASSEROLE

4 Pork Chops
flour
oil
3 cups potatoes, cubed
1 cup fresh peas, fresh or frozen
3 tbsp onion, chopped
2 tbsp parsley, minced
1 can cream of mushroom
1 envelop Lipton's french onion soup mix
3/4 cup hot water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Dip chops in flour and brown in hot oil. In Large casserole dish, place potatoes, peas, onion, cream of mushroom and french onion soup mix. Mix together. Top with browned chops. Sprinkle with parsley, salt and pepper. Cover and bake for 1 hour or until potatoes are done.

French Dip

I got the idea of this reciepe from the Rachel Ray magazine. Jesse and Landon love this meal. Landon ecpecially love the dipping part.

FRENCH DIP

1 can campbell's Condensed French Onion Soup
1 can campbell's Beef Broth
2 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 lb deli sliced roast beef
4 hoagie rolls
4 slices pepper jack cheese

Broil hoagie rolls until golden brown. Then heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat soup, broth and worcestershire sauce in saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Add beef and heat through (we like to add banana peppers also), Stirring occasionally. Divide beef among rolls. Top beef with cheese slices and place sandwiches onto baking sheet. Bake 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Spoon extra soup mixture into bowls for dipping.

Spaghetti Di Mare

I've never been a big fan of spaghetti but how can you say no to scallops and shrimp. My mom made this for me while she was staying with me in September. I couldn't believe how yummy it was.

SPAGHETTI DI MARE

1/2 lb. spaghetti

1/3 cup olive oil

4 garlic cloves, diced

1 pinch red pepper flakes

1 Can (14.5 oz) whole tomatoes, drained

1 pinch salt

3 TBSP balsamic vinegar

2 bouillon cubes, crushed

1/2 lb. scallops

1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 TBSP lemon juice

3 TBSP butter

1/4 cup parsley, shopped

Cook pasta according to package direction. In a large skillet, combine olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook on medium for 3 minutes. Crush Whole tomatoes by hand. Add tomatoes, salt, balsamic vinegar, add bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil. Add scallops, shrimp and lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes. Add butter and parsley. Cook for 2 minutes. Serve over cooked pasta.

Note: We used frozen pre-cooked shrimp and scallops.

Homemade Pizza

My good Friend gave me this recipe and it is so yummy. I love pizza and this is an affordable way to eat it as often as you want.

HOMEMADE PIZZA

Ingredients :

(Dough)

• 1 pkg. active yeast (about 2.5 tsp.)

• 1 c. warm water

• 1 tsp. sugar

• 1 tsp. salt

• 2 T. oil

• 2.5 c. flour

*Note: I will make 1.5x this recipe for 1 Jelly Roll pan/cookie sheet size pizza

(Pizza Toppings)

• Pizza Sauce (I use Hunt's Mushrooms or Garlic and Herb canned spaghetti sauce (1 26.5 oz can will make 2 to 3 Jelly Roll pan/cookie sheet size pizzas)

• Any favorite toppings: Mushrooms, pepperoni, olives or sausage are our favorites

• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in remaining ingredients. If you're not using a mixer, beat well with spoon or fork. You may need to add a little more flour depending on your elevation. I will add everything, but the last 1/2 cup and then I'll keep adding until it is just sticky enough that the dough does not stay on my fingers. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll out dough to fit the pan you are using and place on greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Put sauce in the center of the pizza and spread it out. Place toppings and cheese on pizza and bake for 20 minutes or until the crust/cheese is starting to brown.

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

I'm lazy, what can I say? I believe a great meal should only take 20 minutes of my time. So here is another great crock pot recipe. I've never had a meal I didn't like from a crock pot. Everything comes out moist and perfectly cooked. Jesse was telling me how much he likes scalloped potatoes and ham so I was extremely excited to make this for him. Needless to say he loves this recipe. The best part is it may take 8 hours to cook, but I only spent 20 minutes on it!

HAM AND SCALLOPED POTATOES

Ingredients

8 to 10 medium potatoes, pared and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup water
6 to 8 slices of ham (the thicker the better)
1 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
3 C Cheddar or American cheese, grated
1 can cream of celery or cream of mushroom
Salt and pepper
1/2 C of Milk
Paprika

Instructions

· Toss sliced potatoes in cream of tartar and water
· Soak potatoes for a few minutes (this removes some of the starch)
· Rinse and drain potatoes
· Put half of ham, potatoes, and onion in crock-pot
· Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cheese
· Repeat with remaining half
· Spoon undiluted soup over top
· Sprinkle with paprika
· Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high or 4 hours

Chicken Divine

I normally clock out each day around 4:30 pm. So I prepare all my meals in the morning and just cook them when we're ready to eat dinner. But sometimes I have my days when I really don't feel like cooking a nice dinner with side dishes and such. So I have to throw my meals together. I like to just mix it all together, and that's that. Well, Chicken Divine is my throw together dish. I love cooking casseroles because there are hardly any rules. If you don't like something or want more of something, just do it. So I've put measurements for this recipe but do what ever you want. Make this the way you would want it.

Chiken Divne

Pre-heat oven to 350

2-3 Chicken breast
2 C. of Minute Rice
2 Cans of Cream of Chicken
1 Tspn of Curry powder
3 C. of frozen broccoli
2 1/2 C. of shredded cheese


Cook and dice chicken. In a 9"13 pan mix Chicken, Rice, Cream of Chicken, Curry powder, broccoli and cheese together. Add Between 2-3 cups of water. Cover with tin foil. Cook for 30 minutes then stir. If it looks dry, add more water. Cook an additonal 15 minutes uncovered. Salt and pepper to your taste.

Yummy Italian Chicken

The best meals can be made in a crock pot. When I first got married, my mom felt like she had failed me because I really didn't know how to cook much of anything. She set out on a mission to give variety to my recipe collection. The first recipe she taught me was Yummy Italian Chicken served over steamed rice. This quickly became one of the family favorites. The best part is, there is hardly any work involved!

Yummy Italian Chicken

1/4 C. butter
8 oz. of cream cheese
4-6 boneless,skinless chicken breasts
1-2 packets of dry Italian dressing
1 can of Cream of Mushroom
1 can of Cream of Chicken

Melt the butter in a crock pot; place chicken in melted butter and sprinkle with Italian dressing. Simmer on low 4-6 hours. Mix Cream cheese, Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken together and add to chicken; replace lid and allow time to warm. Serve over steamed rice, noodles or mashed potatoes.

Jumbo Shells & Cheese


This is an easy to put together dinner that can be made complete with a side salad and garlic bread. The recipe is from the box of American Beauty Jumbo Shells. Having it printed on the box makes it easy to shop for the ingredients at the store. This also makes a great freezer meal.

JUMBO SHELLS & CHEESE

1 pkg (12 oz.) jumbo shells
4 c. (2 lb. container) ricotta cheese
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 T. chopped fresh parsley
3/4 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
3 c. (28 oz. jar) spaghetti sauce



Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
In a large bowl, stir together cheese, eggs, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in a 9 x 13 pan.
Fill each cooked shell with about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture. Layer in baking dish.
Pour remaining sauce over shells.
Sprinkle with additional Parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until bubbly.
YIELD: 8 - 10 servings. You can successfully cut this recipe in half or make the whole thing and freeze half for another dinner.