Aroma Dough

I made this for my preschool group this morning and it turned out so awesome! It was so easy. I just had to share.

1 C. flour
1C. water
1/2 C. salt
1 Tbsp. oil
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
1 envelope unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix

Mix ingredients in pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until dough forms ball and doesn't feel sticky. Dump onto countertop and knead for about 1 minute. Store in airtight container.

Pizza pasta

This was such a yummy and easy recipe.  I made it for 2 1/2 people, so the amount of ingredients may need to be adjusted.

1/2 box penne pasta

1 jar Ragu pizza sauce

1/2 bag pepperoni

some mozzarella cheese (I used Italian blend because I love cheese and it had an assortment of cheeses in the blend which is always good) 

Cook the pasta until it's done

Mix all the ingredients together

Save some cheese to sprinkle on top

Bake at 400 degrees until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly 

It really was tasty and I am sure you could add things like olives or mushrooms. 

Parmesan Chicken (aka: Yum Yum Chicken)

This is such an easy recipe and Dalia loves it! (She calls it Yum Yum Chicken)

I only make this for three people so if you're making it for more you'll need to add more ingredients. 

I start with 2 or 3 chicken breasts, cut into chicken tender size.  I mix 1/2 cup bread crumbs with 1/3 cup parmesan on waxed paper.  I drizzle evoo (olive oil) on the chicken so that when I roll it in the bread crumbs they stick to the chicken.  Then I put the chicken coated in the bread crumb/parmesan mixture in a baking pan and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  It is super easy and really tasty.  I usually serve it with garlic noodles and salad.  

Tuna Casserole

This is an old standby from my childhood that my mom would make. I loved it as a child, but sadly, my girls don't enjoy it as much because in their minds, it's "seafood". Oh please.
It's so easy and cheap and a great meal for those nights where you're running and don't have time to plan for anything elaborate.

Tuna Casserole

Elbow macaroni (I use mine from food storage)
Several cans of tuna - drained
Several cans of Cream of Mushroom soup
Dried onion (again, from food storage)
Frozen peas
Milk
Cheddar cheese

Boil pasta.
Mix together tuna, soup, onion and peas. Add milk to your desired consistency. Add to pasta in a baking dish... top with grated cheese. This last time I had a bag of ranch flavored potato chips in the pantry that I crumbled on the top as well. It gave the dish a yummy crunch.

Bake until heated... 350° or so.

Sorry I don't have exact measurements. This is one of those dishes that could probably grow and grow as you add the ingredients.

Tater Tot Casserole

This is a yummy and easy recipe and VERY kid friendly...in fact, I don't think I've ever met a child who didn't like it! :-)

1.5lbs ground beef
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 12oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups medium cheddar cheese
1 bag tater tots

Spice to taste:
salt
pepper
garlic salt

Brown ground beef, season and add onions

Put ground beef in a 9x9 pan

Add cream of mushroom soup and 3/4 cup cheese

Cover with layer of tater tots

Sprinkle remaining cheese

Bake according to tater tot instructions. When complete, I like to broil for a few mins to make my tater tots nice and crunchy.


Remove from oven and let set for five mins. Serves 4. This also freezes up great! I usually make two at once, one for dinner, one for the freezer. :-)

Chuckwagon BBQ Rice Round-Up

1 pound lean beef or turkey
1 package Rice-a-Roni beef flavored
2 tbs butter
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup bbq sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef until well cooked. Remove from skillet; drain. Set aside. In same skillet over medium heat, saute rice mix with butter until rice is golden brown. Slowly stir in water, special seasonings and corn; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in bbq sauce and beef. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover, let stand 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Sounds kinda weird, but we tried it and it is wonderful. Kid friendly.

Paula's Macaroni and Cheese

Okay I love this recipe! It's a very RICH recipe though, so it works great as a side dish.

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups mozzerella cheese
2 cups medium cheddar cheese
8 oz large elbow macaroni
1 cup classic caesar croutons (crushed)
Salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 350°, boil elbow macaroni until done. While it's boiling, heat heavy cream in a sauce pan slowly until it comes to a slow boil. Remove from heat and whisk in mozzerella and cheddar until smooth. Pour over macaroni and mix until covered. Stir in 3/4 cup of croutons. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup croutons over top. Bake uncovered for approx 10-15 mins or until top croutons are browned.

For a side dish, this can serve approx 6 people, for main dish approx 4 people.