Easy Pasta Casserole

Perfect for the weeknight dinner!

Ingredients: 
1 lb. ground beef
1 t Garlic salt
Pepper to taste
16 oz penne
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
16 oz can tomato sauce
10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 T Italian seasoning
2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Set a pot of water on to boil.
3. Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Season with garlic salt and pepper.
4. When water comes to a rolling boil, add the pasta. Cook until al dente.
5. Drain grease off ground beef. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, soup, Italian seasoning, and 1/3 cup cheese. Heat over medium-low heat until simmering.
6. When noodles are done, drain and rinse. Pour them into a 9" x 13" baking dish.
7. Pour tomato sauce mixture over pasta. It will ooze down into the noodles. If the sauce doesn't ooze to your liking, stir things up a bit!
8. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.
10. Let casserole stand 5-10 minutes before feeding your crew!

Bon appétit! 

Mushroom Pizzas

I have been told how nasty this picture looks, but these scrumptious mini pizzas are so stinkin' tasty! (Not to mention a healthy alternative to regular pizzas.)

What you need:

2 large portabella mushroom caps

1/2 cup pizza sauce (I'm not fancy--I use the stuff in a jar.)

6 pieces turkey pepperoni

1/4 cup sliced black olives

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

(Feel free to substitute with your favorite pizza toppings)

What to do: 

1. If your mushrooms have a stem, cut it out.

2. Use a damp cloth to clean out the inside of the mushroom--especially between the little gill things. **Remember to not soak your mushrooms as they will absorb and hold on to excess moisture!

3. Bake the mushrooms at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes. This helps to rid them of excess moisture.

4. Work carefully with the hot mushrooms as you top each with 1/4 cup of pizza sauce, 3 pepperoni slices, a few black olive slices, and 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. 

5. Broil them for about 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melty. 

6. I recommend eating these bad boys daintily with a knife and fork because they are so HOT straight from the oven!

Pepperoni String Cheese Roll-Ups

This super easy, 3 ingredient recipe can serve as a snack, appetizer, or main entree! 

What you need:

1 can of crescent rolls (8 rolls)

4 sticks of string cheese

24 pieces of turkey pepperoni

Optional: marinara sauce for dipping

What to do:

1. Lay out all 8 crescent rolls. 

2. Lay 3 slices of pepperoni on the wide end of the triangle.

3. Lay 1/2 a cheese stick on the pepperoni.

4. Beginning with the wide end, roll up the crescent roll.

5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for ~15 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.

6. Serve warm with marinara for dipping.