~Fancy Pants Spaghetti Casserole~

I have four boys and one thing my mom warned me about early on was that boys eat a lot. As usual, mom was right. They are always hungry! It's amazing how you can just get the dinner dishes cleaned up and before you can escape the kitchen or shortly after, they're back in there looking for a treat or snack. 

A few years ago, my youngest son asked me what I made for dinner that smelled so good. I told him I made a casserole. He watched me scoop up a hearty helping and put it on a plate for him. A bit puzzled he said, "That looks like spaghetti though." I told him this was a fancy type of spaghetti that was kind of like a mix between spaghetti and lasagna. Then he remarked, "Oh, a fancy pants spaghetti." So today, I'm going to share the recipe for Fancy Pants Spaghetti. 

  

~FANCY PANTS SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE~

Prep Time- 20 minutes

Serves 12

Ingredients:

1  1/2 lbs. Ground beef
1 small onion (chopped) optional
8 oz. Mushrooms (sliced) optional
2 tsp Worcestershire

1 small can Tomato paste

1 packet of Lawry's spaghetti seasoning
2 TBSP Tony's Creole Seasoning or a smaller amount of cayenne pepper (Optional-use only if you want it a little spicy) 
1 pkg. (12oz) Spaghetti noodles
1 stick of Butter (3/4 stick is to be sliced-1/4 for greasing your pan)
1 cup Grated cheddar or sharp cheese
1/2 cup Grated mozzarella or Italian cheese mix
1 (80z) Small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 oz) Cream cheese
1/3 cup Sour cream

Preheat oven to 375.

Prepare water to boil your noodles and cook as directed on package.

In a skillet, add your onions and mushrooms and let them cook until they are almost transparent. 

Add your ground beef and stir. Once the meat is half way cooked add your Worcestershire sauce. (Here is where you add the creole seasoning or cayenne pepper if you want your recipe to be a little spicy.) Stir and continue to brown until fully cooked. 

Pour in your spaghetti seasoning packet and tomato paste stirring until well mixed. Turn off burner and set meat aside.

In a large bowl combine softened cream cheese, cottage cheese and sour cream. Mix well until completely blended. 

Add the previous mixture to your spaghetti noodles and mix completely.

Grease 9"x13" pan generously with 1/4 stick of softened butter. (If you have some butter left, use it with the next step where butter is needed.)

Place the noodle and cheese mixture in the bottom of your generously greased pan. With the remaining 3/4 stick of butter, slice and distribute equally on top of noodles.

Next, add your meat mixture on top of noodles and spread thoroughly covering the noodles. 

Add your grated cheeses on top of the noodles. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until casserole is extremely bubbly. 

Remove from oven and let it cool. 

Yummy bread and a good salad are great with this casserole. This is also a wonderful dish to serve large crowds! We rarely have leftovers at our house but if there are any then it's even better the second day! Happy eating!

~Grilled Chicken Florentine Pasta~

Pasta rocks! If I have to take a meal to someone with a big family or to a potluck I prefer to make a pasta dish. Pasta is easy, quick and close to fail-proof. It's filling so your family or guests should never finish a meal or leave without feeling satisfied or stuffed. This dish I'm going to share with you today looks and tastes impressive but is pretty easy. It can be made with chicken prepared on the grill or chicken cooked in a pan. I have included directions for cooking it in your skillet if you don't use grilled chicken. 

Serves 12

Ingredients:

4 Chicken breasts  (cut into short strips, chunks or preference)

Olive Oil

3 TB Butter

3 TB Flour

1 cup Whole Milk

2 TB Garlic (minced)

1 cup sliced Mushrooms (optional)

1 medium Onion (chopped) 

10 oz. bag fresh spinach or frozen Spinach (thawed and drained)

16 oz. Bow Tie Pasta (or pasta of your choice)

1 cup Chicken Stock

4 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)

1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare water and follow the directions on the package to cook pasta al dente. 

*For grilled chicken: Season your chicken with salt and pepper to taste and grill. After your chicken has been grilled and cooled off a little, cut into thin strips and set aside. 

*For chicken prepared in a pan: Cut your chicken in strips or chunks. Pour a little olive oil in a large pan on medium high heat and cook your chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Be careful not to overcook your chicken or it will be dry. Once your chicken is done remove it from the pan and set aside. Turn down the heat to medium and melt 2 TB butter. Add garlic and onions. Stir constantly to avoid burning. When onions are almost transparent add the mushrooms. Continue to sauté until done. 

Next add cream cheese and Parmesan cheese and let them begin to melt. Slowly stir in chicken stock and stir until everything is completely melted. Add the chicken until heated fully. (If the sauce is too thick you can add some more milk until desired consistency.)

Lastly, add the spinach and carefully fold it into the sauce.