Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yield: 6 servings

MEATBALLS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, beaten

SAUCE
3/4 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled
tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.



Yummy. :)

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.

*This was amazing! I really loved it. My only suggestion on this one is to be sure to buy lean ground beef. Mine turned out a tad oilier than I would have liked. Also--this wouldn't be hard to make healthier either! Use ground turkey instead of ground beef, and use whole wheat pasta!*

Last Minute Garlic Bread

Whenever I'm making an italian meal, but am not in the mood to make breadsticks, I whip out a batch of these babies. Super simple, and super yummy.

You will need:

white bread
softened butter
mayonnaise
garlic powder


parmesaen cheese
italian seasonings
(both optional but good)

Mix equal parts softened butter and mayo until smooth. Add garlic powder a little bit at a time until it tastes the way you want it. I like mine really garlicky so I tend to add a lot. Generously spread onto bread. Broil in the oven until nice and toasty. (These are actually a tad toastier than I like, I forgot about them! Don't do that!) Sprinkle with parmesean cheese and italian seasoning. This is optional (I usually don't put it on) but it's good.

Graham Cracker Eclairs

I found this recipe on a craft blog the other day.  I just had to try it!


Makes 1 9x13 pan

2 small packages instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 package of chocolate frosting (or make your own)
8 oz. cool whip
1 box of graham crackers

--Stir pudding mix and milk together and let set for 5 minutes. Fold in cool whip. In a 9 x 13 pan layer graham crackers (I usually break some to get them to fit right). Then layer on 1/2 of the pudding mixture. Layer twice more and then spread frosting all over the top.

Let set overnight or at least 3 hours.

Serve and Enjoy!

Snickerdoodles

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, mix together the shortening and 1 1/2 cups of white sugar until smooth. Stir in the eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; stir into the batter until blended. Roll the dough into balls. Roll in a mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and still soft.

Salsa Chicken

This recipe is delicious, versatile, and best of all- EASY!  It's another one of those I put into the "I can't screw it up" catergory.  Here's what you'll need.

Makes enough filling for 3 quesidillas/burritos.

2 chicken breasts
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup salsa
1/2 packet taco seasoning

Combine everything into a pan.  Cook until chicken shreds easily.  Shred chicken, stir and serve as a filling for burritos, tacos, quesidillas, or as a topping to your salad.


*A lot of times I'll cook this in the crockpot as well.  Just throw everything in (chicken is frozen) and cook on High for about 3 hours.*

Chicken Packets

Makes 8 packets

You will need:

2 cans cresent rolls
2 chicken breasts, shredded
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 butter, softened
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
dash garlic powder
ritz crackers, crumbled (or seasoned bread crumbs)

10 oz can cream of chicken soup

Mix cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter together.  Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chicken.  Open crescent rolls.  Keep rolls in squares (2 triangles squished together).  Place filling in the middle and fold and pinch closed (does that make sense?  I shoulda taken a picture.)  Melt the other 1/4 cup butter in a bowl, and place the crumbled ritz crackers in seperate bowl.  Roll each packet in the butter and then gently roll it around in the crumbs to cover.

Place on greased cookie sheet and cook for about 20 minutes.  (okay, I really don't know how long mine were actually in the oven.  Go by what the crescent roll canister says and then keep an eye on them)


Meanwhile prepare the cream of chicken soup.  Serve ladled over warm chicken packets!

Ridiculously Easy Banana Cream Pie

You will need:

1 pie crust (I used pre-made graham cracker)
1 package instant banana cream pudding
1 1/4 cup milk
1 1/4 cup whipped topping
2 bananas
caramel
more whipped topping

Slice up one banana and place in pie shell.  Drizzle caramel over bananas.  Prepare pudding by mixing pudding mix, milk, and whipped topping for 2 minutes.  Pour into pie shell.  Cut up second banana and place on top.  Drizzle caramel again, and top with whipped topping.

Refridgerate for 2 hours or until ready to serve.

See?  So easy!  And everyone will love it!