Caesar Tortellini Salad

This is a great summer meal for when you are short on time. I made this after Friday night softball and Matt and I both thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm sure we will be making it again soon. It you want to add some extra protein, you can easily throw in some baked chicken too.

Caesar Tortellini Salad
Source: Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices
Ingredients:
1 bag light Caesar salad mix
9oz frozen cheese tortellini
1 tomato
Baked chicken (optional)

Directions:
Cook chicken and tortellini according to package directions. While cooking, mix up the salad according to the package directions and chop up the tomato. Mix the tomato into the salad. Rinse tortellini under cold water and toss with salad. If desired, toss in some baked chicken. Serve immediately.

Sausage Cheese Frittata

We love breakfast for supper in out house. We have it about every other week. I've recently found a love for sausage and egg bakes. This frittata did not disappoint. The original recipe from allrecipes.com called for bacon but I substituted 1/2lb Bob Evans pork sausage instead.

Sausage Cheese Frittata

Source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

6 eggs
1 c milk
2 tbs butter or margarine, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 c chopped green onions
1/2 lb pork sausage, cooked and crumbled
1 c shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Pour into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. (I used a pie dish) Sprinkle with onions, bacon and cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Pasta with Bacon, Cheese, and Tomato

Yum! This is a weight watches recipes that I stole from another blog. I have to say, it is pretty darn good and very versatile. You can change up the cheese, pasta, and veggies in this dish fairly easily to fit your tastes. For us, it was perfect the way it was and with some pieces of baked chicken thrown in. A very good, healthy one dish meal. I cut the recipe below in half (except for the bacon) and it was a good amount for my husband and I to share.

Pasta with Bacon, Cheese, and Tomato
Source: Stephanie Cooks
Ingredients:
2 c uncooked pasta
2 tbs flour
1 c milk
4 center-cut bacon slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c shredded Gruyere cheese (I used mozzarella)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 c chopped fresh basil (I omitted)
3 c baby fresh spinach
1 pint grape tomatoes
3 tbs Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook the pasta according to directions, drain and set aside.

While pasta is cooking, place the flour in a small bowl. Add milk gradually, whisking until well blended.

Cook bacon in a medium saucepan. Remove from pan and finely chop.

Drain excess grease. Add garlic to the pan, saute 30 seconds. Add milk and cook until thick, about 4 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Stir in the Gruyere and seasonings, stir until well combined.

Add pasta, bacon, spinach, and tomatoes. Stir until spinach wilts slightly. Top with Parmesan.

Bad Mrs. B

I'm so sorry I have neglected this blog. With all the house excitement (check out my personal blog!) I have not been thinking about posting my recipes. I do have a couple photos sitting on my camera waiting to be posted with delicious recipes so hopefully I will get one up tonight. I promise to try harder :)

Oat Applesauce Muffins

Excuse these horrible pictures. I know these muffins don't look good but they really are very good. Extremely moist and actually healthy. Leaving out the butter and oil and substituting applesauce really adds a nice touch.

Oat Applesauce Muffins

Source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1c rolled oats

1c buttermilk

1c flour

1tsp baking powder

1/2tsp baking soda

1/2c brown sugar

1/2c applesauce

1 egg

Directions:

Soak oats in buttermilk for 2 hours at room temperature.

Stir together the dry ingredients. Stir in oat mixtures, applesauce, and egg.

Pour into 12 prepared muffin wells. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

Taco Pasta Skillet

100 posts!! Woohoo! This meal is a good way to celebrate. It is a great weeknight meal that provides plenty of yummy leftovers for lunch the next day. According to my husband: pasta? good. meat? good. cheese? good.

Taco Pasta Skillet

Source: modified from Family Circle (I think) magazine

Ingredients:

1/2lb ground beef

1lb small pasta (I used two kinds because that it all I had)

1 can (15oz) great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14.5oz) no salt added stewed tomatoes

1 can (15oz) mild enchilada sauce

1tsp chili powder

1tsp red pepper flakes

1/4tsp salt

2c shredded taco cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package, drain.

While pasta is cooking, prepare sauce. In a large skillet, brown beef. Drain and return to skillet. Add beans, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and salt. Break up tomatoes. Simmer over medium heat 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add1/2 of cheese and simmer for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occassionally.

Add pasta to skillet. Stir in hald of remaining cheese. Serve topped with extra cheese.

Lemon Chive Fettuccine

Yum! I love pasta dishes. Especially when they are fast, easy, and healthy!

Lemon Chive Fettuccine

Source: Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices

Ingredients:

6oz uncooked fettuccine

1/3c reduced-fat sour cream

3tbs chopped chives

1tbs grated lemon peel

2tbs lemon juice

1tsp margarine

1/2tsp salt

1/4tsp pepper

Directions:

Cook and drain fettuccine as directed on package.

Mix remaining ingredients. Toss with fettuccine.

Honey Glazed Carrots

I have a new found love for carrots. I take them in my lunch almost every day during the week but I have never cooked them for supper even though I love them cooked. So, when I saw this recipe in one of my cookbooks, I had to try it. They were actually very good. Next time I think I will try using some cinnamon instead of the nutmeg though.

Honey Glazed Carrots

Source: Betty Crocker's Healthy New Recipes

Ingredients:

1 bag (16oz) baby carrots

2tbs honey

1tbs margarine

Ground nutmeg

Directions:

Place carrots in 1in water in a saucepan. Heat to boiling, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain well.

Add honey and margarine to carrots in saucepan; heat to boiling. Cook carrots, stirring frequently, until margarine is melted and carrots are glazed. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Sloppy Jon's

No, you didn't read that wrong. I did call them Sloppy Jon's. Weird, I know. You see, growing up I was teased on Sloppy Joe day at school since my name is Jo. So, at home, my parents made up for it by serving Sloppy Jon's (my brother's name). It's something that has stuck and now, that's what I will always call them. Fun story, right?

Anyway, this is a simple recipe for the sandwich. They are very tasty and require only 5 ingredients plus buns. Top them off with some pickles and you've got anexcellent sandwich. Add some corn on the cob and fruit salad and you have a quick, summer meal that all those little kids out there named Jo will love.

Sloppy Jon's

Source: Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef or turkey

1/2c chopped onion (I used some onion powder since Matt doesn't care for onion chunks)

1 can reduced-fat condensed tomato soup

2tsp worcestershire sauce

3 drops red pepper sauce

hamburger buns

Directions:

Cook ground meat over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.

Stir in remain ingredients, except buns. Cook, stirring occasionally, until hot.