Taco Pasta

A friend of mine made this for a playdate and it was very yummy. My family LOVES it!!

What you need:

1lb ground beef

1lb Penne Pasta

1 c hot sauce

1 can of corn

1 c of olives (I always put more because the family loves olives!!)

1 pkg Taco Seasoning (optional)

1.5 c of shredded cheese ( I sometimes use a little more)

Set Oven at 350

Boil penne pasta

Cook ground beef, add taco seasoning if desired (use directions on pkg)

Mix pasta, ground beef, hot sauce, corn, olives and 1 c of shredded cheese. Put in a casserole dish. Add remaining cheese on top and cover. Bake for 30 min.

Before cheese is added:

Russian Chicken

This is one of my favorite meals that I make! It's so easy to do and I LOVE it! DH's cousin made it for us one time when we went to visit them and I just had to get the recipe.



Here's what you need:
1 lb chicken breast
1 bottle of Russian dressing or 2 small bottles
1 jar of apricot preserves
1 can of mandarin oranges
1 can of pineapple chunks





Preheat the oven to 350. Mix russian dressing and apricot preserves together in a bowl. Place chicken in a 13x9 pan and pour mixture on top of it using all of it and covering all the chicken. Place foil on top and bake for 30 minutes. Here is what it will look like when it comes out:







Add however much fruit you would like, we put it all on there because we love the fruit. Put back in the oven uncovered and bake another 30 min or until done.

Grilled Chicken

I got this marinade recipe from my wonderful Mother In Law and it's great! We love it and eat this chicken all the time, especially when we have guests over cause it makes A LOT!!!

Here is what ya need:

1 pkg Chicken Leg Quarters

1 small bottle of liquid smoke

1.5 tsp of garlic salt

1.5 tsp of celery salt

Peel the skin off the leg quarters.

pour the bottle of liquid smoke all over them, then add the garlic salt and celery salt and baste it all over the chicken.

Grill until cooked throughly approx: 30-45 min

BEFORE:

After: Getting ready to come off the grill!!

Baked Ziti

I got this recipe from Jamie and my family absolutely loves it!!! You can check out pictures of it on her blog!!

Here is what you will need:

1lb dry ziti pasta
prepared1 onion, chopped *optional*
1lb lean ground beef
1 (26oz) jars spaghetti sauce (you can use more if you would like)
6oz sliced provolone cheese
6oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 container of Ricotta Cheese

If you are including the onion then brown the onion and ground beef together. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and let simmer for 15 min.
Mix Mozerrella and ricotta in a seperate bowl
Then layer into a 13X9 dish
pasta
provolone
cheese mixture
sauce mix
pasta
cheeses
sauce mix
Top with grated parmesan
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Chicken and Rice

My mom used to make this recipe all the time growing up. We love it around here and the best thing about it is it's simple and quick!!

Here is what you will need:

1-2 chicken breasts

Minute Rice

2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

I usually boil the chicken breasts for about 30 minutes. While that is boiling I make 4 cups of minute rice (use directions on box)

When it's done boiling I let it cool down and then cut it into cubes. Then in a 13X9 pan I combine the cooked rice, chicken, and cream of mushroom soup. Pop it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes.

I forgot to get a picture so I quickly took a pic of my husbands plate! hehe!

Green Bean Bacon Wraps

My friend Tina gave me this recipe after I requested it when I tried some of these great and wonderful things!!! They are great for snacky type foods so I am posting before I have a pic of them...I am making them tomorrow for New Year's Eve Party so I will post a pic later!

Here what ya need:
1 pkg. Frozen whole green beans (I've used cut green beans and they work just as well)
1lb. bacon
1C. brown sugar ( I put a little more than a cup on mine)
1Tbsp. Soy sauce
1/2Tsp. Garlic Salt

I cut the bacon in 1/2, place 5-6 green beans and roll, secure with toothpick. (I've rolled w/o any tooth picks before and there were fine.)
Once they're all rolled and placed in a single layer baking dish sprinkle rest of ingredients on top. You can marinate overnight but I usually don't and they are just as good!

BEFORE:

AFTER: Somebody snagged two before I was able to take my picture! LOL!!

Fruit Salad

This was a huge hit at Christmas with my family and it's easy peasy to make!!

I got this recipe from my friend Candice!

Here is what you will need:

2 cans of fruit cocktail
1 small jar of maraschino cherries
1 container of cool whip
1 package of instant pistachio pudding mix
1 package of instant french vanilla pudding mix
marshmellows (however many you want)
1 can of mandarin oranges

Mix the fruit cocktail, cherries, marshmellows and cool whip til you have fruit covered well.



Add in 1/2 the package of vanilla pudding and 1/2 the package of pistachio pudding and mix well. You may add extra cool whip to desired texture, not to fluffy but not too dry.



I then fold in the mandarin oranges becasue if you mix them too much they will fall apart.

Before cool whip





After cool whip!!

Enjoy!