Category: Main Dishes


Sep
2016

BBQ Meatloaf

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

meatloaf-2

Today I am featuring the second recipe in my series of back to school meals. The first delicious and hearty meal I featured was Baked Ziti with Meatballs. This week I have a great recipe for you that was created by my mother-in-law Nancy. It’s her famous BBQ Meatloaf. She loves to serve it with baked potatoes and a vegetable and it is delightful! Nancy has made this meatloaf many times and it pleases all of the picky eaters in my family! This comforting meatloaf is highlighted with savory onions and a delicious bbq topping. You can conveniently whip all of the ingredients together in one bowl and then shape it in a 9″x 13″ pan. So you won’t have to dig out your loaf pan from the dark depths of your cupboards. And don’t forget that the leftovers make the best meatloaf sandwiches. So let’s get to mixing.

meatloaf-1

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.  Then put 20 saltines crackers (about 1/2 of a sleeve) in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling-pin.

cracker

Now chop 1/2 cup of onions into fine pieces.

onionsNow in a bowl mix the 2 pounds of ground beef with the 20 saltine crackers that you crushed, the 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 eggs that you have beaten in a bowl, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

meatloaf-ingredients-2

Mix this together and form in into a loaf in your 9″x13′ pan.

mixed-up-meatloaf

loafBake the meatloaf for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Then add 1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce to the top of the meatloaf and then bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the meatloaf reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. 

adding-bbq-sauce

Now you are ready to enjoy this weeknight favorite with your family.

BBQ Meatloaf
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Ingredients
  1. 2 pounds of ground beef
  2. 20 saltine crackers (about 1/2 of a sleeve of crackers)
  3. 1/2 cup chopped onion
  4. 1/2 cup ketchup
  5. 2 eggs that you have beaten in a bowl
  6. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  7. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  8. 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce for the top of the meatloaf
Instructions
  1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then put 20 saltines crackers (about 1/2 of a sleeve) in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling-pin.
  2. Now chop 1/2 cup of onions into fine pieces.
  3. Now in a bowl mix the 2 pounds of ground beef with the 20 saltine crackers that you crushed, the 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 eggs that you have beaten in a bowl, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  4. Mix this together and form in into a loaf in your 9"x13' pan.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Then add 1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce to the top of the meatloaf and then bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the meatloaf reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.
  6. Now you are ready to enjoy this weeknight favorite with your family.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/
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Aug
2016

Baked Ziti with Meatballs

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Baked-Ziti-with-MeatballsIt’s that season again, it may not be here officially…but fall is in the air…I hear it, I smell it, I feel it!  We’re trying to get back in the swing of things, back into the school routine, and we again, need to find meals to make on those busy weeknights. This month I’m focusing on back to school meals and today I am featuring my first recipe in this series. This recipe features homemade meatballs, a delightful amount of gooey cheeses all mixed together with a hearty ziti pasta that will fill up even the hungriest kids on a school night. So let’s get started.
Baked-Ziti-2We will start by mixing up the homemade meatballs.  Mix together 1 pound of ground beef, 2 slices of white bread that have been chopped into small pieces, 1/4 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion, 1 egg, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.

meatballsNext shape into around 25 meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. Place the meatballs on baking sheets lined with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until the meatballs reach 160 degrees on a meat thermometer. 

uncooked meatballs

While the meatballs are cooking, you can boil 2 1/2 cups of ziti pasta (about 1/2 of a 16 oz. package) according to the package directions.  

pasta

When your meatballs and pasta are finished cooking you can combine them with the large jar of Prego Traditional sauce and a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in a bowl.

cooked meatballs

pasta mixed with sauceAfter you have that mixed together, you can start layering the casserole in a 9″x13″ baking dish.  Layer half of the sauce mixture in the baking dish.

1st layerNow in a bowl mix together a 15 oz. package of ricotta cheese with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and then spread this layer on the sauce layer in your baking dish.

cheese mixed with mozarella 

2nd layerNow top this layer with the remaining sauce layer.

top layerThen cover the top with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

top cheese layerCover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. And then uncover the pan and bake them for an additional 15 minutes.

covering zitiNow you are ready to serve this dish with your favorite garlic bread.  Your family will cheer for this new weeknight favorite. 

incovering ziti after baking

Baled ziti 4

Baked Ziti with Meatballs
A delicious baked pasta dish
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Ingredients
  1. Meatballs
  2. 1 pound of ground beef
  3. 2 slices of white bread that have been chopped into small pieces
  4. 1/4 cup of milk
  5. 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion
  6. 1 egg
  7. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  8. ------------------------
  9. 2 1/2 cups of ziti pasta (about 1/2 of a 16 oz. package)
  10. 1 large jar of Prego Traditional pasta sauce (2lb. 13 oz. jar that is the bigger jar)
  11. 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  12. 15 oz. container of Ricotta cheese
  13. 4 cups of mozzarella cheese (2 cups for the middle layer and 2 cups for the top)
Instructions
  1. We will start by mixing up the homemade meatballs. Mix together 1 pound of ground beef, 2 slices of white bread that have been chopped into small pieces, 1/4 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion, 1 egg, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.
  2. Next shape into around 25 meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. Place the meatballs on baking sheets lined with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until the meatballs reach 160 degrees on a meat thermometer.
  3. While the meatballs are cooking, you can boil 2 1/2 cups of ziti pasta (about 1/2 of a 16 oz. package) according to the package directions.
  4. When your meatballs and pasta are finished cooking you can combine them with the large jar of Prego Traditional sauce and a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in a bowl.
  5. After you have that mixed together, you can start layering the casserole in a 9"x13" baking dish. Layer half of the sauce mixture in the baking dish.
  6. Now in a bowl mix together a 15 oz. package of ricotta cheese with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and then spread this layer on the sauce layer in your baking dish.
  7. Now top this layer with the remaining sauce layer.
  8. Then cover the top with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
  9. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. And then uncover the pan and bake them for an additional 15 minutes.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/

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Jul
2016

Taco Pizza

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Taco-Pizza-2

What’s your favorite kind of pizza?  Well mine is without a doubt taco pizza.  I love pizzas that have loads and loads of toppings and taco fits that bill.  When I came across this recipe from Sweetie Petitti for Happy Joe’s Taco Pizza I knew I had to give it a try.  When I was young my family went to Happy Joe’s most Friday nights and I always ate their taco pizza, so even the thought of it gives me warm fuzzies.  When I actually tried this recipe it didn’t disappoint, with its delectable double cheese, smooth refried beans, flavorful meat, and wonderful fresh toppings…I was transported to my childhood! To save a little time, I used refrigerator pizza crust, but you can use any crust recipe you like.  So let’s get started making this yummy treat, it will be a new weeknight favorite for your family.  Here are the ingredients that you will need:

ingredients for taco pizza

Start by browning the one pound of hamburger and 1/4 cup of chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder in a pan until it is no longer pink.

meat for taco pizza

Then while the meat is browning remove the Pillsbury refrigerator crust from the package and spreading it out on a greased cookie sheet.

pizza crust

Now prebake the crust for 8 minutes in a 400 degree oven if you are using a greased dark or nonstick cookie sheet or 425 degrees if it is a different pan type.

cooked crust

Now that your crust is prebaked you can mix up the sauce, mix 1/2 cup of refried beans, 1/4 of a cup of taco sauce and 1/2 of a cup of pizza sauce. Then spread this mixture over the pizza crust.

adding sauce Top with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

adding cheese

Then add ground beef.

meat on the pizza

Now top with 2 cups of Colby Jack Cheese.

cheese on top of the pizza

Now bake the pizza for 8-10 minutes.

cooked pizza

Now you can top the pizza with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and crushed Taco Doritos.

toppings Now you can serve the pizza with extra taco sauce and sour cream.

pizza with topping

 

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Taco Pizza
 
Ingredients
  • 1 pound of hamburger
  • ¼ cup of chopped onion
  • ½ teaspoon of oregano
  • ½ teaspoon of cumin
  • 1½ teaspoons of chili powder
  • 1 package of Pillsbury Refrigerator Pizza Crust
  • ½ cup of refried beans
  • ¼ cup of taco sauce
  • ½ cup of pizza sauce
  • 2 cups of mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups of Colby Jack cheese
  • Shredded lettuce
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • Crushed Taco Doritos
Instructions
  1. Start by browning the one pound of hamburger and ¼ cup of chopped onion, ½ teaspoon of oregano, ½ teaspoon of cumin, and 1½ teaspoons of chili powder in a pan until it is no longer pink.
  2. Then while the meat is browning remove the Pillsbury refrigerator crust from the package and spreading it out on a greased cookie sheet.
  3. Now prebake the crust for 8 minutes in a 400 degree oven if you are using a greased dark or nonstick cookie sheet or 425 degrees if it is a different pan type.
  4. Now that your crust is prebaked you can mix up the sauce, mix ½ cup of refried beans, ¼ of a cup of taco sauce and ½ of a cup of pizza sauce. Then spread this mixture over the pizza crust.
  5. Top with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
  6. Then add ground beef.
  7. Now top with 2 cups of Colby Jack Cheese.
  8. Now bake the pizza for 8-10 minutes.
  9. Now you can top the pizza with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and crushed Taco Doritos.
  10. Now you can serve the pizza with extra taco sauce and sour cream.

Notes

Adapted from Sweetie Petitti

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Apr
2016

Cream Cheese and Chive Stuffed Chicken

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Cream-Cheese-and-Chive-Stuffed-Chicken

Today I am featuring a scrumptious stuffed chicken recipe that is packed with cream cheese, chives and then coated with breadcrumbs.  I love chicken  and cream cheese, which makes this recipe the perfect paring of these two delicious ingredients.  The chicken stays so moist and cooked to perfection, because it is baked in butter and its crispy coating holds in the juices.  The filling is a flavorful Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread that I have enjoyed on crackers for years.  Well, now I know it’s not just for crackers or bagels.  It makes a perfect chicken filling!   It helps make the preparation of this dish so easy on busy weeknights.  And this his recipe has only six ingredients, which adds to the time savings.   So if you want to bake an out of the ordinary chicken recipe that won’t have you slaving away in the kitchen all night, try this recipe.

cream-cheese-and-chive-stuffed-chicken-2

Here are the six ingredients you will need: 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 cup of plain bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 cup of melted butter, and 1 (8 oz.) tub of Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread.

ingredients for stuffed chicken

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Next pound the chicken breasts with a mallet to about 1/4″ thickness.  I usually put the chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper to avoid a mess .

flattened chicken

In a bowl combine the 1 cup of plain bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Ingredients-for-the-coating

Now in a separate shallow dish melt  1/2 cup of butter.

meltes butter

First dip the chicken in the butter letting any excess drip off, and then into the breadcrumb mixture coating each side.

chicken in butter

dipping chicken in bread crumbs

Now spread 3 tablespoons of the Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread on each breadcrumb coated chicken breast.

Cream Cheese

 

cream cheese on chicken

Then fold over and secure with toothpicks.

chicken folded over

Place stuffed chicken in a single layer in a 9×13″ baking dish then drizzle remaining  melted butter.

butter over chicken

Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

cooked chicken

Print
Cream Cheese and Chive Stuffed Chicken
 
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup of plain bread crumbs
  • ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ cup of melted butter
  • 1 (8 oz.) tub of Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Next pound the chicken breasts with a mallet to about ¼" thickness. I usually put the chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper to avoid a mess .
  3. In a bowl combine the 1 cup of plain bread crumbs, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
  4. Now in a separate shallow dish melt ½ cup of butter.
  5. First dip the chicken in the butter letting any excess drip off, and then into the breadcrumb mixture coating each side.
  6. Now spread 3 tablespoons of the Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread on each breadcrumb coated chicken breast.
  7. Then fold over and secure with toothpicks.
  8. Place stuffed chicken in a single layer in a 9x13" baking dish then drizzle remaining melted butter.
  9. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

 

 

 

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