Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti

This recipe is a nice change from your usual spaghetti recipe.  You can use bottled sauce and that makes it even easier.  There are tons of choices in the jared sauce aisle in the grocery store.  Also Publix has it buy one get one free quite often too.  So it is a good idea to keep some in the pantry for one of those nights you want something easy.  This recipe isn't one of those 30 minute meals but it can be done in less than an hour.

A little fresh parm cheese on top and you are good to go.

 You will need 6 cups of sauce for this meal so you will need a big jar and maybe a little extra.

 Chop and saute  an onion.

 Add ground beef and brown.  Then drain fat off.

 While the beef is brown you can cook the pasta.  Cook one pound of pasta about two minutes shy of what the directions tell you.

 Drain the noodles.

 I put them back in the pan they cooked in.

 Add 5 cups of sauce to the noodles.

 Toss them around to coat well.

 Noodles all covered.

 Add 1 cup of sauce to the ground beef and onions.

 Stir well.

 Take 8 oz of softened cream cheese.

 Add 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese to the cream cheese.

 Mix well.

 In a 9x13 baking dish add half of the noodles to the bottom of the pan.

 Add the cream cheese and cheese mixture.

 Spread it out as best you can.

 I added a little grated parm on top.  You can't have too much cheese.

 Sprinkled around on top of the cream cheese mixture.

 Then add the remaining noodles on top.

 Now add the ground beef mixture on top of the noodles.

 Add about a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.  I didn't measure the cheese. I wanted it covered well.

 Cover with foil.  Place in a preheated 350 oven and bake for 30 minutes.  Then uncover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Then serves with some additional parm cheese on top.

Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

1 pound spaghetti
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
garlic
salt and pepper
6 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz softened cream cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Creamy French Onion Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice is one of those great dishes that you put in a little prep and then you put it in the oven and really forget about it.  This is a nice spin on the traditional chicken and rice.  If you like French Onion soup you will really enjoy this dish.  I was told this was a keeper.  The leftovers were good too.  Sometimes that is important around here.  We don't always have leftovers but when we do I like for them to be eaten.  Give this a try soon.  I think your family will enjoy it.

I got to use some of my fresh parsley from my herb garden on top.  If you don't have any fresh parsley it won't make a difference in the taste.  It basically just makes it look pretty. 

I added the french fried onions.  I had a few left over and thought I would add them on top.

Start with 2 cups milk.  I used 2 %.

Add 2 cans cream of chicken soup.  I will probably use cream of mushroom soup next time.  I tend to have more of that on hand.   Mix it well.

Add 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice.

Add 1 pkg of French Onion soup mix.  Mix all of these things together well.

Pour into a 9x13 baking dish.  I sprayed it so it would stick.

Add chicken to the top.  I cut mine into pieces because smaller pieces cook better than the whole chicken breast.

Cover tightly with foil.  You are basically steaming it.  Place in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake for 60 minutes.

After 30 minutes uncover and fluff the rice some.   Recover and continue baking for 30 more minutes.

While it is back in the oven grate some Gruyere cheese.

After the second 30 minutes take it out and uncover.  Fluff the rice some.

Then top with the cheese.

It looks good and smells better.

Then I added the french fried onions on top. Recover it and place back in the oven for about 15 minutes.  You want that cheese to melt.

Doesn't that look good?

Chop up some fresh parsley.

You are ready to serve.

Dip up and sprinkle with the parsley.

Creamy French Onion Chicken and Rice recipe

2 cups uncooked long grain white rice (you can use brown if you like)
2 cups milk
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 pkg French Onion Soup mix
1 lb chicken
1/2 cup Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon parsley

Bake in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake covered for 30 minutes, fluff rice, then return to the oven for 30 more minutes.  Fluff rice, add cheese and return to oven for 15 minutes.

May the Fourth Be With You Wookiee Cookies

I could not let May the Fourth pass without doing a Star Wars recipe.  Earlier this week I remembered I had a Star Wars cookbook.  So I went and found it on my shelf and started looking for a recipe that I could make this week.  I found this one for Wookie cookies. I think these will make a great addition to your Star Wars meal tonight. 

Even on a Star Wars plate. 

 This is a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe with an interesting addition.

 Just to show you that I am not making this up.  Here is the recipe for Wookiee Cookies.

 This is the cookbook.  If you or a member of your family is a big Star Wars fan you might want to add it to your collection.

 Now on to the recipe.  Start with two sticks of softened butter.

 1 cup brown sugar

 1/2 cup sugar.  Cream together

 Add two eggs

 1 teaspoon salt.  I might add a little less next time.

 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  This is that little something extra.

 1 teaspoon baking soda

 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour.  Mix one cup at a time.  Trust me on this.  You don't want flour all over your kitchen.

 1 cup milk chocolate chips

 1 cup semi sweet chips.  Mix well.

 Scoop up onto a parchment lined baking sheet.  Place in a preheated 375 oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Now I started baking for 9 minutes because I thought the 10 minute ones were a little dark.

 Warm from the oven.  You have to sample one while it is warm.  I won't tell anyone.

Now you are ready for your May the Fourth Be With You party tonight.  I think you will like these.

Wookiee Cookie Recipe

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.  Bake for 9-10 minutes.