Chicken Ranch Pasta

This was so good and so easy and again....Justin liked it so that's a huge plus!!! And I got it off Pinterest {I LOVE Pinterest}!!The recipe comes from Plain Chicken as does the yummy picture...

It really turns out as yummy, bacony, and creamy as it looks!!

8 ounces penne pasta

1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
1/3 cup cooked, chopped bacon
2 cups cooked chopped chicken 

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In same pot melt butter. Add flour and stir. Cook flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Continue cooking until sauce thickens. Stir in ranch dressing mix and cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add chicken, bacon and pasta.  Stir to coat.

Two Timin' Pasta Bake

This was super yummy and super fast!! Another Pinterest find!! Even Justin likes it so ya know it has to be good!! The recipe comes from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour!! The pictures are her too!! She has TONS of yummy recipes to try!!! Go check her out!!

So here it is.....

Two Timin' Pasta Bake







1 box penne pasta

1 (15 oz.) jar Alfredo sauce

1 (24oz.) jar Marinara sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions and drain. Mix the sauces together in a large bowl.

Add the mozzarella and stir to combine.

Then toss in the penne and toss to coat.

Pour pasta into 9x13 baking dish and cook on 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and bake for another 5 minutes.

I made some Amish White Bread {easiest bread EVER} to go with it and it was so yummy!!!

Bow-Tie Lasagna

This was very good!! So easy to whip up!! It comes from Chef Mommy who got it off Tasty Kitchen. The picture is hers also!!







1 pound ground beef
3 cups bow-tie noodles
3 cups spaghetti sauce ~ I used Prego
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cups mozzarella cheese
½ cups sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
Directions:
Cook ground beef in a non-stick pan. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. After noodles are cooked, drain and drizzle with olive oil. Mix in your spaghetti sauce. Add the ground beef and seasoning. In a small bowl combine the sour cream, mozzarella and Parmesan. Add to the pasta mixture and fold together and allow it all to combine and melt together, over low heat, for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and additional Parmesan.
I added a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese when adding the other cheeses because that's what I always put in my lasagnas and because the girls love it! Served with green salad, green beans, and french bread! It was a winner!! And I didn't double it and had enough for John's lunch!!

Cold Spaghetti Salad

This is my new favorite salad, my aunt made it for our 4th of July picnic and I just foundered on it! It's basically a pasta salad except with spaghetti! I found this recipe at Cook.com but I'm sure you could add or take away what you want!

1 pkg. thin spaghetti {I used Ronzoni's whole wheat thin spaghetti}
Cook spaghetti as directed on package. Rinse and set aside to cool for a bit.

Mix together...
1 jar Wishbone Italian dressing
1 pkg. Good Seasons Italian dressing
1/2 jar Salad Supreme spices by McCormicks ~ {this makes it taste so good}

Then add:
2 tomatoes, cut up
1 onion, cut up
1 green pepper, cut up ~ {didn't add this...green peppers are nasty}
sliced cucumber~ {added 2 of these...love these}

Let marinate overnight. Serve cold! Wish I would've taken a picture..it was yummy, yummy, to my tummy!

Beef Noodle Bowls

This recipe comes from the Kraft website. And even though the kids aren't huge broccoli fans they do eat the broccoli in this dish.

1/2 lb. linguine, uncooked
3 cups broccoli florets ~ I use the steam bags of broccoli in the micro and add those at the very end
3 carrots, peeled, sliced ~ I used the pre-made mini baby carrots
2 tsp. oil
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
1/4 cup KRAFT Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing
1 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce
How to make it...
COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding vegetables to the boiling water for the last 2 min. ~ I add the carrots the whole time the pasta is cooking
MEANWHILE, heat oil in large nonstick skillet. Add meat; cook until browned on all sides, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing and teriyaki sauce; cook 2 min. or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
DRAIN pasta mixture; place in large serving bowl. Add meat mixture; toss to coat.

I 4 x's the sauce mixture, so I used 1 whole cup of dressing and 4T. of Teriyaki sauce to make it a little more "saucy". Served with grape jello and french bread! Could also add ½ c. planters peanuts or pineapple tidbits would be good! Enjoy!!

Ranch Pasta with Hamburger

I found this recipe over at "Home Sweet Home" ~ she has a lot of things I want to try! It was great and super fast! It is definitely a new family favorite. I served it with some yummy rolls.

1 pound of ground chuck
1/2 of a large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 box of pasta ~ I used those cute new "mini" pastas, the penne ones ~ Rotini, Bowties, or Gemelli would be good choices.
1 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
1 pouch dry ranch dressing mix

In a large pot, bring well salted water to a boil and drop your pasta. Cook according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large, deep sided skillet over medium heat, brown the meat, onions and garlic and add the S&P. In a medium bowl, combine the milk, sour cream and ranch mix until mixed. When the meat is browned, drain off grease if necessary. Drain the pasta when it is al dente. Combine the meat mixture, pasta and sauce in one of the pans that is large enough to hold it all.