Cheesy Tuna Casserole

Take some help from a jarred sauce to make this classic home style casserole.

What you need:

• 3 c. Uncooked Pasta (any short cut style)
• 1 – 16 oz. Jar Ragu Double Cheddar (or similar) Sauce
• 8 oz. Cheese Cubed or Shredded (cheddar, co-jack, pepper jack, etc.)
• 2 Cans Tuna (drained)
• ½ c. Milk
• Black Pepper to Taste
• 1 c. Crushed Crackers, Potato Chips, or Bread Crumbs (optional)
• Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in pasta and cook according to directions, under cooking by one minute. Drain and rinse pasta.
2. Warm the cheese sauce and milk over low heat while the pasta cooks. (Tip: Add the milk to the emptied sauce jar and, with the lid on, give it a good shake to easily get all the sauce out.)
   
3. Fold cheese chunks/shreds, tuna* and pepper into sauce mixture.
   
4. Toss pasta and sauce mixture together until blended.  Pour into a greased casserole dish
5. Top with Parmesan cheese and crumb topping if desired.
   
6. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.

*substitute cooked sausage, bacon or ham pieces to your taste. Also, peas are a wonderful addition to this dish.

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BANANA BREAD BAKED OATMEAL

Quickly turn over ripe bananas into this warm & comforting baked oatmeal that tastes just like a slice of fresh baked banana bread.  It is even gluten free & and can become dairy free with the use of almond milk! This is wonderful warm out of oven or chilled and served the next day as breakfast on the go or a great addition to a lunch box! 

Ingredients:

• 3 medium ripe bananas
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 t. vanilla
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg (optional)
• 1 t. baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• ½ c. chopped nuts (pecans, almonds or walnuts)
• 1½ c. milk
• 2½ c. old fashioned oats
• ¼ c. butter (or coconut oil) melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8×8 casserole with cooking spray.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, mash the bananas.

3. Add the brown sugar, vanilla, milk and eggs. Mix well.

4. Add the oats, nuts, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well.

5. Stir in melted butter (or coconut oil). Pour into the casserole dish.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Top should be a golden brown and completely set.

7. Serve warm or leftovers taste great served chilled or reheated the next day.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Made w/ a SPECIAL Ingredient
(Don’t Skip This!)

Pin it on Pinterest HERE: http://pin.it/RkPpX3O

We all probably have our own chocolate chip cookie recipe that we used, maybe passed down through generations or maybe just one you found online that you love! But, let me tell you this, after you read through this recipe and try this special ingredient, you’ll never go back to the other ways again.  Trust me.  I LOVE chocolate chip cookies, especially when they are light and fluffy and well….chocolately.  (Is that a word? It is now!)

So when you look at this stack of ingredients, you basically see everything you usually use, right? Flour, sugar, butter, baking soda, vanilla….but notice we added something different.  That’s right.  Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix. Yes, you read that right! It’s a little addition that makes them so light, fluffy and melt in your mouth delicious!

Recipe:

Here are the basic ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• (1) Package Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 cups chocolate chips (I personally like mine with a lot of chocolate so I add an entire bag!)

Baking Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.  Set aside until later.
• In a large mixing bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Bowl), cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar together until completely incorporated.
• Add the Instant Pudding Mix until well mixed
• Add eggs one at a time and then the vanilla
• Add the flour mixture slowly (adding it too fast will make it dry)
• Mix in the chocolate chips
• Place spoon fulls of cookie dough on your baking pan (well greased is key!)
• Bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on your oven, you may need more or less time!
• Let them stand on your cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes and then move to cooling rack.

Another TIP: Did you know, if you don’t have any Vanilla Pudding Mix, you can use cornstarch? Yup! Simply add 2 teaspoons in with your flour, salt and baking soda mix when you add to the wet ingredients.  It makes them incredibly light and fluffy!

Some other Recipes you may like:

Easy Crock Pot Mac & Cheese Recipe
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-FY7
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471466826615/

Cheesecake Recipe – Yellow Cake Crust
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-MPU
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471469119878/

Simple Crock Pot Spaghetti
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-JPi
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471467737712/

Baked Ravioli Lasagna

Only 4 ingredients and less than 15 minutes to throw together! If you don’t like meat you can make it without. This recipe will make the entire family happy!

Pin It HERE on Pinterest: http://pin.it/PqtTZuK

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Frozen Ravioli
  (I use 16oz bag of Jumbo Ravioli but if you want to make a larger batch with more than 1 layer then a 25oz bag works great!)
• 1 jar (26oz) of your favorite pasta sauce (I love using Creamy Vodka for this recipe)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 lb. Italian sausage (mild or hot for some extra spice)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook Italian sausage. I like to add some Mrs. Dash Italian Medley for some extra flavor. I always blot the meat after cooked with paper towel to remove some extra grease and unwanted calories!

Spread some of the pasta sauce to coat the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange the frozen ravioli over the sauce. Top with half of the remaining pasta sauce. Sprinkle ½ cup of mozzarella cheese on top. Add the cooked sausage layer and then the remaining pasta sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. (If using a larger bag of ravioli you can layer it up.)

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot in the center. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Some other Recipes you may like:

Easy Crock Pot Mac & Cheese Recipe
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-FY7
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471466826615/

Cheesecake Recipe – Yellow Cake Crust
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-MPU
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471469119878/

Simple Crock Pot Spaghetti
Get Recipe Here ============►►► http://wp.me/p1T1oF-JPi
Pin It: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/420101471467737712/

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Note: YOU DO NOT have to prepare this as shredded chicken, I have done it both ways! You can enjoy it as a Chicken Breast Meal. After original cook time, instead of shredding during this step put a few pats of butter on top of each chicken breast, put the cover back on, and cook the additional hour.

Ingredients:

• 6 Frozen Chicken Breasts
• 1 Bottle Frank’s Red Hot
• 1 Packet Hidden Valley Ranch
• 1 8 oz cream cheese
• 3 Tablespoons of Butter

Instructions:

• Add to Crock Pot the Frozen Chicken, Dump Frank’s over the top, then Sprinkle Ranch
• Cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours
• Shred the Chicken (we like to use our stand or hand mixer!)
• Add Butter & cream cheese
• Cook for another hour uncovered

It is done! Eat on a sandwich, on chips with a little melted cheese, slice up some french bread and serve as appetizer, however you decide to eat it, it is DELICIOUS!

Valentine’s Oreo Pops Recipe

Ingredients:

• One 15-16 oz package of Oreo Cookies
  
• One 10 oz package of Marshmallows (appx. 5 cups)
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
  
• 1 c. white chocolate or almond bark
  
• Sucker sticks
  
• Sprinkles/sanding sugar for decorating
  
• Heart cookie cutter
  

Directions:

• Butter an 8X8 inch baking pan. Line the baking pan with parchment paper letting the paper extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. Butter paper; set pan aside.
• Using a food processor or blender, crush the oreos into a fine crumb.
• In large saucepan over low heat melt butter and marshmallows, stirring until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in ground Oreo Cookies until combined.

• Transfer to prepared baking pan. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan. Cool approximately 30 minutes.
• Lift cookie mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut heart shapes out of the bars.

• Carefully insert a sucker stick into each. Reshape as needed.
• Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler or slowly in the microwave.
• Dip each heart into the chocolate, tapping off the excess. Lay on a parchment lined baking sheet. Decorate with sprinkles as desired. Allow to set for 1 hour.

Poultry a la King Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Leftover turkey or chicken cubed or shredded
• 4 Cups Leftover gravy
• 1 Cup Frozen Vegetable
  
• 2 & 1/4 cups bisquick
• 2/3 Cups Milk

Directions:

• Combine Meat, Gravy, and Vegetable and bring to a simmer. Add Salt & Pepper to taste.
• Simmer for about 5 Minutes.
• In Bowl mix Bisquick & Milk

• Once mixed, add tablespoons of bisquick mixture to the Turkey Mixture one at a time
• Cover & let sit on medium-low heat for 5 to 8 minutes.