Take the Day Off!!

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After a long week, the last thing I feel like doing on Friday night is cook. We usually get take out or sometimes go out for dinner. I encourage you to take a break today. You don't have to necessarily go out for dinner, but have a "fend for yourself" night, a "leftover" night, or throw a frozen pizza in the oven. The main thing is to take a break. Enjoy!

Thursday Spotlight - Kraftfoods.com

Every Thursday I will feature one of my favorite resources to find new meal ideas. One of my favorites is Kraftfoods.com. They have all sort of recipes from main dish ideas to desserts. They have great ideas for those on a budget and recipes for those trying to live healthy. Make sure you check it out!!

Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake (Freezer recipe)

Before I had my gall bladder out, I made some meals ahead and put them in the freezer. It was so nice to just pull them out and bake. It's something that I hope to do more of. It makes dinner time so much easier.

What You Need:

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1 lb ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 (4 oz) can mushrooms, drained
1 (26 oz) jar pasta sauce
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 t Italian seasoning
1 lb spaghetti, broken into small pieces
3/4 C milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (5 oz) pkg sliced pepperoni
1 1/2 C shredded Cheddar cheese
2 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Freezer Wrap

How to Make It:

Place a large pot of water over high heat.
Bring to a rapid boil.
Boil spaghetti as directed on the package.
Drain and rinse.
Place ground chuck in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the onion, green pepper and mushrooms.
Cook until meat is browned being sure to crumble the meat.
Drain.
Add the pasta sauce, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.
Stir until well combined.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Place the eggs and milk in a large bowl and blend.
Place the spaghetti in the egg mixture and toss to cover.
Lightly spray a large baking dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Place half of the spaghetti mixture into the bottom of the pan.
Place half of the meat sauce over the top of the spaghetti.
Repeat for another layer.
Put the casserole in the refrigerator to cool.
Once cooled, wrap with the freezer wrap.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
Bake 45 minutes.
Uncover and top the casserole with the pepperoni and 2 cheeses.
Continue to bake another 15 minutes or until cheese has completely melted.

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Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

I actually found this recipe on Twitter from @Feelslikehome. She was sharing the link to her Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice recipe. It sounded yummy. I made it that night. Here's the recipe:

Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup fat-free milk
• 4 ounces light Velveeta Light, cubed
• 2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
• 1 pound broccoli, chopped (if using frozen, it should be thawed and drained)
• 1 (10-3/4-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I added some cooked chicken to this for a little more protein and it made a great meal for us. It even makes great left overs.

For more great Tempt My Tummy recipes, check out Blessed with Grace.

Leftover Dinner Magic

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What do you do when a meal is finished? Most of us wash the dishes and wrap up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten? Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to smell and you finally throw them out? If you tend to do the latter, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.

Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over. Here’s a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family is the same way. Let’s start with an example.

You prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night. The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the fridge, right? Not anymore. Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.

Eating leftovers the way they were originally served, is probably what’s turning family members off from wanting it again the next night. Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin as is. So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces.

Now you’re probably thinking, ok that’s great, but what do I do with it now? In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the leftover rice with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.

This is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef. Let’s take a look at beef.

If you have hamburgers left from dinner, chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos. Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili. If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.

Using a little leftover magic can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days. But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week. Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up. Yes, it really can be just that simple.

Your family will be amazed at your ability to transform any meal into a new creation they will enjoy. Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers. Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.

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Frugal Cooking Series - Starts April 6th

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So many of us are trying to be more frugal and a great place to start is at home with your cooking. I will be starting a series of frugal cooking ideas tomorrow.

Don't miss it!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Lately I am all about simple. Here's our menu for the week:

Monday - Chicken Quesadillas, rice, and corn

Tuesday - Brats on the grill, salad, fries

Wednesday - Burgers on the grill, veggie, chips

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Takout

Saturday - Cheddies on the grill, salad, fries

Sunday - Italian Chicken in Crockpot with noodles and salad

For more Menu Plan Monday, please head on over to the Organizing Junkie.