What's for Dinner?

Lasagna is my husband's favorite meal so I'm always looking for new and better recipes to try. This one was so easy to make and my 3 year old loved helping to make the layers. The only change I made was substituting ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese. The best part is that it turned out great! Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
32 ounces cottage cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons dried parsley
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup water

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, salt and ground black pepper.
To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Add 1/2 cup water to the edges of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

I'm not really a meatloaf person but my husband's been bugging me to make one. So I decided to try to switch it up a little and make something that's not as traditional. This recipe was a hit. My 3 year old loved helping me pat the meat into a loaf :-) Makes 5 servings.

Ingredients

1 carrot, grated
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
1 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, saute the carrot and onion for 2 minutes, or until onion is transparent. Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, beef, ketchup, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, bread and eggs, mixing well. Add the carrot/onion mixture and continue mixing, but do not over mix, as this will make the meatloaf dry. Transfer mixture to a 9x13 baking dish and form into a loaf.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes.
While loaf is baking, heat the remaining tomato sauce and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Pour over loaf when done.

This is a nice fast weeknight recipe. It's easy to make and smells great while it's cooking. Serve with garlic mashed potatoes and veggie for a complete meal. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 pounds top sirloin steak, sliced
2 cups chunky pasta sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup red wine

Directions

Heat the oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the steak strips, turning so that all sides get browned, about 10 minutes.
Add the tomato sauce, garlic and red wine. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the steak is cooked through.

This is an easy recipe for a weeknight. It's a light pasta sauce with yummy veggies. Serve with garlic bread and you're done! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

12 ounces spaghetti
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

Directions

In a large skillet cook ground beef. Drain excess grease.
In a separate pan saute the onion, garlic, and green bell pepper in olive oil until tender. Add the cooked ground beef, tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, and ground black pepper. Add salt, if desire. Simmer for an hour.
As simmering time nears, in a large pot cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain.
In a large bowl, toss drained spaghetti with tomato paste. Add cooked sauce; mix well.
Serve warm.

This is kind of like a ravioli lasagna and it's MUCH easier to make! You can use any kind of ravioli, meat or sauce that you like. Just use whatever you have in the house! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (25 ounce) package frozen cheese ravioli
2 tablespoons butter
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 (16 ounce) jar prepared Alfredo sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil; boil the ravioli until it floats and the filling is hot, 6 to 8 minutes; drain.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet, season with the Italian seasoning, and cook and stir until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle, about 15 minutes.
Spread about 1/2 cup of Alfredo sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange enough ravioli over the sauce to cover the bottom of the dish completely. Top the ravioli with about half the cooked chicken. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese over the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
Bake in the preheated oven until heated through completely and the mozzarella cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over the top of the dish; return to oven to cook another 5 minutes before serving.

This is a quick and easy sauce to make when don't want to use a jar but you don't have time to simmer all day. Basically you brown the beef and throw everything else in. It's delicious! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/3 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
1/4 tablespoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a large skillet cook ground beef. Mix in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, onion soup mix, water, basil, garlic, oregano, salt, and ground black pepper.
Simmer until heated through.

I've made Alfredo from scratch before but never like this. I loved the addition of the vegetables and the Colby jack cheese. If you like Alfredo sauce, I highly recommend you try this variation! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
6 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 pound fettuccini pasta
1 onion, diced
1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
3 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat combine chicken, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Saute onion, 2 cloves garlic, and mushrooms until onions are transparent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Slowly add milk and half-and-half, stirring until smooth and creamy. Stir in Parmesan and Colby-Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until cheese is melted. Stir in chicken mixture, tomatoes and sour cream. Serve over cooked fettuccini.

Umm, this was delicious. It was so simple to make and it was just so yummy and so filling. I wish I didn't get full so fast because it made me want to have more. It's a perfect, quick, weeknight meal. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

This recipe is great for nights when you feel like eating Italian but are tired of dishes with the typical red sauce. It's really easy to make and it's delicious too! I used mild sausage instead of hot. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

6 (3.5 ounce) links hot Italian sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 (4 ounce) can mushrooms, drained
1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add penne pasta, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
Place the Italian sausage links in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook, turning occasionally until firm and cooked through.
In a separate larger skillet, combine the red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and Italian dressing. Cook and stir until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Slice the Italian sausages into rounds, and stir into the vegetables. Continue to cook and stir for another 5 minutes.
To serve, place servings of pasta onto plates. Top with the sausage and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese.

This is a great lasagna, LOTS of flavor. My only recommedation is that if you use the no cook noodles, bake the lasagna for a little longer than 40 minutes. My noodles were slightly undercooked. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
9 lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 pound lean ground beef
2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
salt and pepper to taste
3 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
To make filling- Combine in a bowl: ricotta cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and eggs.
To make sauce- In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain grease. Combine in skillet, browned ground beef, oregano, basil, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Heat through and stir.
In a 9x13 inch pan, alternate layers of cooked lasagna noodles, sauce, and filling, making 3 layers total. If desired, top with more mozzarella cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

This is a hearty italian dish that is pretty simple to make. You probably already have most of the ingredients at home already! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
6 cloves garlic, sliced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 bunch fresh basil, chopped
1 (12 ounce) package dried penne pasta
2 eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pound thin chicken breast cutlets

Directions
Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, and saute for a few minutes. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes, and saute for another minute. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, and add the basil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs with a fork. Place bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Stir the garlic powder, salt and pepper into the bread crumbs. Dip chicken cutlets into the egg, then press into the bread crumbs until completely coated.
Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken for about 5 minutes per side, or until the coating is a nice dark brown color.
Remove chicken, and cut into slices. Toss the chicken slices into the sauce, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cooked penne, simmer for a few more minutes to soak up the flavor, then serve.

These really are great. They actually rival my grandmother's recipe which is famous in my family. Try them, you won't be disappointed. Oh and I used the "meatloaf mix" that my grocery store carries. It's all 3 meats ground together in one package. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

Directions
Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

This is delicious. I love it because it's not your typical red or white sauce over pasta with shrimp. The bacon is a great added touch! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) package linguine pasta
1/4 pound bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 cup half-and-half cream
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 pound cooked shrimp
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic, basil, and oregano in oil for 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and green onions, and saute for 3 minutes. Add bacon, half and half, Parmesan cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese. Cook until cheese is just melted. Stir in shrimp, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Serve sauce over pasta, and sprinkle with pine nuts.

This recipe is a little time consuming, but it is worth it. It has a lot of flavor but not too overpowering for kids. It's also easy to adjust the quantity depending on how many people you are cooking for. Makes 6-8 servings.

Ingredients
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75 ounce) can low-fat cream of celery soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
6 ounces low fat mozzarella cheese, sliced
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish, in a single layer. Cover with the celery soup and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes, until browned. Remove from oven.
Combine the mushroom soup, water, onion, garlic and oregano and mix all together. Pour mixture over chicken. Top with mozzarella cheese slices, pushing the cheese down into the sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes more until bubbly and golden brown.

This was my first attempt at making fish...EVER! It was SO simple and it turned out great. Even my 2 year old couldn't get enough of it. Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients
2 pounds flounder filets
1/2 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Arrange flounder in a medium baking dish. Dot with butter, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Top with tomato, basil, and garlic powder.
Cover, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

This a great crock pot recipe for a rainy Sunday, which is exactly when we had it. It makes a ton so there is plenty for seconds. It's a great comfort food! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated or fresh cheese tortellini
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.
Combine the ground meats, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes in a slow cooker. Cover, and cook on LOW heat for 7 to 8 hours.
Stir in the tortellini, and sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes on LOW, or until the tortellini is tender.

This dinner was a big hit in my house. Even my 2 year old ate every last noodle on her plate. And it was so simple to make! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Directions
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until they turn a deep brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant. Mix in the chicken stock and rosemary, and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook until reduced by 1/3, about 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti pasta, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, then add noodles to the sauce in the skillet. Stir in the remaining butter and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve in a large bowl family style, or place about 1 cup of pasta in a large mug or small bowl. Insert a dinner fork in the center of the pasta and twirl the fork around, holding the mug steady. The pasta will wind up tighter and tighter as you turn. Remove the fork and immediately turn the pasta out onto a dinner plate or shallow bowl. Garnish with extra cheese and rosemary sprigs.

My dad didn't make up this recipe, but someone's Dad did and they really did a good job. I was a little skeptical because I'm not a fan of tomato soup but this was really delicious and everyone wanted seconds! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound spaghetti
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
2 1/2 cups water

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with onion until meat is brown. Drain. Return meat mixture to pan with tomato paste, tomato soup and water. Cook, stirring, until heated through and thickened, 5 to 15 minutes. Serve over cooked pasta.

This recipe is a great new twist on the pot pie. It kind of put an Italian spin on it. It's yummy and is really simple to make. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
2 cups sweet red peppers, with sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Directions
Place peppers, including liquid, into food processor; pulse until peppers are cut into small pieces.
Brown meat and onions. Add peppers, mushrooms, and cheese to meat mixture. Spoon into bottom crust. Cover with top crust, and seal the edges.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until crust is brown, and pie is heated through.

This recipe is a good one pot recipe which I love when it comes to doing the dishes! This is another good meal to make with garlic bread and you're good to go. Yum! Makes 4-6 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1 onion, chopped
1 clove crushed garlic
1 (8 ounce) package wide egg noodles
1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimento peppers, drained
1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Mix beef and sausage into 1 or 2 flat patties. In a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, salt patties and brown well on each side. Remove meat and set aside.
Saute onion and garlic in the drippings. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the platter with the meat.
In the drippings, carefully brown a single layer of the raw noodles until golden, remove and do another layer until all are done.
Return all the noodles to the skillet with the garlic, onions, peppers, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Break the meat patty into large chunks, gently stir all together and simmer 1/2 hour or so. Add a little water as the noodles absorb the juices. This should not be soupy, just thick and dry. Stir in the grated cheese and let it melt into the sauce. It sticks easily at this point, so don't overcook. This reheats well in a slow cooker or casserole.