Pizza Pasta Bake

A delicious pizza inspired casserole! Feel free to add in your own favorite pizza toppings!

12 ounces cavatappi penne, or rotini
1 medium onion diced
½ pound Italian sausage mild or hot
½ pound lean ground beef
3 cloves garlic minced
½ red bell pepper diced
½ green bell pepper diced
14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes drained
2 teaspoons dried oregano
4 cups pasta sauce
2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
28 slices pepperoni

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook pasta according el dente to package directions. 
• Rinse under cold water and drain well.
• Brown onion, garlic, sausage and beef in a large pan over medium heat. 
• Drain any fat. 
• Add in red and green peppers and cook an additional 2-3 minutes. 
• Add oregano, drained tomatoes and pasta sauce, stir well.
• Place pasta in a greased 9×13 pan. 
• Pour meat sauce over pasta and top with cheese and pepperoni slices.
• Bake 35-40 minutes uncovered or until cheese is melted and pasta is heated through.

Recipe: Spend With Pennies

Coffee Frosted Coffee Brownies

Did you know that coffee cakes means something different in the US compared to the Uk. Here..in America... coffee cake is any cake you eat with a cup of coffee. Back in England it simply a cake that has coffee flavouring! It took me a while to figure that out....

Anyway... coffee flavoured cake is one of my absolute favourites..and I havent tasted it in ten years... but recently I have had a craving for a slice...or two. My hubby loves Brownies... so when I saw this recipe I thought "why not???" Plus...it is my birthday week and I deserve a tasty treat

These brownies are rich, fudgy, and quite delicious... and with coffee in the cake and the icing.. it fed my coffee addiction perfectly

1 Cup butter

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
2 Cup sugar
3 Tbsp. instant espresso powder
4 eggs
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Frosting:

1 Tbsp. instant espresso powder
1 Tbsp. milk
1/2 Cup butter softened
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Cup confectioners' sugar

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Line parchment paper into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan 
• Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and the chocolate.
• Remove from heat and whisk in sugar, espresso powder and eggs.
• Stir in flour, cocoa powder and salt.
• Pour into baking pan.
• Bake 30 - 35 minutes; until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
• Cool in the pan.
• For the frosting, in a bowl, mix espresso powder and milk together
• Set aside.
• In another bowl, cream the butter and salt until fluffy.
• Slowly mix in the confectioners' sugar and milk/coffee mixture.
• Once combined, increase speed and mix until fluffy.
• Spread on the cooled brownies.
• Slice, serve and enjoy!

Recipe: Flour Me With in Love

Poor Man's Stew

Very easy to throw together, this full flavoured slow cooker stew is perfect for when you're pressed for time yet looking for a delicious home-cooked meal.

 
This stew pairs wonderfully with a slice of warm, crusty bread or a simple side salad, making it a complete meal.

You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or use beef stew meat for a chunkier texture. To make it more filling, stir in a can of drained kidney beans or peas towards the end of cooking. And for extra vegetables, throw in some frozen green beans or corn in the last hour of cooking.

1 lb ground beef
4 large potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried thyme

• In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it's no longer pink. 
• Drain excess fat.
• In the slow cooker, combine the beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic.
• Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes
• Add Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme. 
• Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
• Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. 
• Serve hot.

Recipe: Cooktop Cove

Mexicali Hash Brown Taco Casserole

This hashbrown taco casserole is a meat and potatoes dinner baked in one dish. A Tex-Mex twist on Shepherd’s Pie.

1lb 90% lean ground beef
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper divided
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper divided
1/2 cup corn
1 pkg taco seasoning
10.5 oz condensed tomato soup
3 oz low fat cream cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion divided
2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese divided
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
15 oz frozen hashbrown potatoes thawed

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Lightly grease or spray a 2 or 2 1/2 quart oblong casserole dish.
• Brown ground beef, half of the bell peppers and onion in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. 
• Drain fat from pan, reduce heat.
• Add the undiluted tomato soup, corn and the cream cheese. 
• Stir until well combined and no chunks of cream cheese are visible. 
• Stir in taco seasoning and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. 
• Turn mixture into prepared pan, spreading mixture evenly across the bottom.
• In a separate bowl, combine the defrosted hash browns, the remaining peppers, salt, pepper and remaining 1 cup shredded cheese.
• Top ground beef with potato mixture, pressing it down slightly.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until topping is browned and crispy on top.

Recipe: The Midnight Baker

Roasted Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

Creamy roasted jalapeno popper spread with cheese and bacon... in between two slices of Texas Toast. This is a winning grilled cheese combo!!

4 medium jalapeños, stems removed, sliced in half, and seeded
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
½ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
6 strips bacon, cooked, divided
4 slices Texas toast (Or your bread of choice)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Brush the jalapeños with the olive oil on all sides 
• Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast for about 15 minutes, or until the skin of the jalapeños begins to char slightly.
• Remove from oven and set aside to to cool slightly.
• To a medium mixing bowl, add cream cheese, garlic salt, pepper, and onion powder. 
• Mix until creamy.
• Once the jalapenos are cool enough to handle, roughly chop them 
• Fold them into to the cream cheese mixture.
• Butter one side of one slice of bread. 
• On the opposite side, spread half of the cream cheese mixture. 
• Top the cream cheese mixture with 3 slices of bacon and ½ cup of cheddar cheese. 
• Top with another slice of bread and butter the outside. 
• Repeat these steps with the remaining bread.
• Add the buttered sandwich to a skillet 
• Cook both sides over medium heat until the bread is toasted and the cheese is completely melted (3-5 minutes per side). 
• Serve immediately

Recipe: I Am Homesteader

Cheesy Tortellini Alfredo Bake

Quick and easy to make... its a comforting and cheesy tortellini bake with a rich Alfredo sauce and tender broccoli florets. Ring the changes by throwing in some cooked chicken or shrimp for extra protein

16 oz cheese tortellini
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cups Alfredo sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Cook tortellini according to package instructions until al dente.
• Drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
• Stir in Alfredo sauce and bring to a simmer.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked tortellini, broccoli florets, and Alfredo sauce.
• Mix until well coated.
• Transfer tortellini mixture to a greased baking dish.
• Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Let cool slightly before serving.
• Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Tip: Add cooked chicken for extra protein.

Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

An easy crockpot chicken stew. Warming, comforting and filling, perfect for chilly autumn evenings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 large potatoes, cubed (1 pound)
3 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup milk
1 cup frozen green peas

• Heat olive oil in a skillet. 
• Toss the chicken with flour, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper
• Brown on all sides.
• Transfer the chicken to your slow cooker. 
• Add garlic, onion, carrots, potatoes, and bay leaf. 
• Pour in the chicken broth.
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
• Stir in milk and peas
• Cook for an additional 15 minutes.
• Season with more salt and pepper if needed. 
• Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe:  Tasty Treasures