What's up Wednesday--easy meatballs

Wow, my Wednesday post is actually on a Wednesday this week--I am doing good :)  

This is a super easy meatball recipe that my family loves.  As you can see by the sub rolls and spaghetti sauce in the picture we had meatball subs for dinner this night.  Yum!  This recipe makes twice as many meatballs as you see here, so I always freeze half to use a different day--more meatball sandwiches, spaghetti and meatballs, or BBQ meatballs.  All of our favorites.  These just mix up so quick and taste very good.  Enjoy!  I got the recipe from my amazing mom!

Easy Meatballs

2 lbs ground beef

1 package (6 oz) stove top stuffing mix for chicken

1 1/4 cups water

2 eggs

Heat oven to 400.  Line two baking sheets with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Mix ingredients until well blended.  Shape into about 1 1/2 inch balls--I use my pampered chef medium cookie scoop.  Place half the meatballs on a pan and half on the other pan.  Bake 16-18 minutes or until done (160 degrees).  Serve immediately with noodles and sauce or however you like your meatballs or allow to cool and put in freezer bag and store for later.  Thaw before using.  Enjoy!

What's up Wednesday--Shepard's pie

This is another one of those super easy recipes.  I got this just after I was married.  It was the first thing I made my new in-laws when they came to dinner after we were married.  They were impressed :)  This is the perfect dish to use up extra mashed potatoes, or easily make instant potatoes to put on top.  A friend told me the best way to make instant mashed potatoes seem like real is make them with milk and add butter.  There are not measurements on how many mashed potatoes you need.  My family loves a ratio of 2:1 on the potatoes, so whatever you have on hand or how your family likes it.  Enjoy!

Easy Shepard's Pie

1 lb. hamburger

1 can green beans, drained

1 can cream of mushroom soup

mashed potatoes

grated cheddar cheese

Brown meat.  Drain, then combine with soup and green beans.  Place in casserole dish.  Cover with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese.  Bake 350 for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

What's up Wednesday--beef burrito skillet

This is one of my many "get dinner on the table super fast" recipes.  And all my family likes it, so that is a plus too :)  You can start it at five and sit down to eat it by 5:30.  Love dishes like that.

Beef Burrito Skillet

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 package taco seasoning or about 1/4 cup

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 cup salsa

1 cup water

4 flour tortillas cut into about 1 inch squares

1 cup shredded cheese

sour cream, green onions for toppings

Brown meat in large skillet.  Drain.  Add seasoning mix, beans, salsa, and water.  Stir.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 5 minutes.

Stir in tortillas.  Top with cheese.  Cover and remove from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Top with sour cream and/or green onions.

Enjoy!  Quick, easy, and good!

What's up Wednesday--red and white pasta

I found this recipe over here a few months ago, and I freely admit we have had this recipe at least 5 times since I found it.  I have made it for company twice and the other 3 times just for my pasta loving family.  It is super easy, and way yummy!

Red and White Pasta

I box (16 oz) ziti, or penne or similar pasta cooked and put into 9x13 pan.  You can see the steam coming off these noodles.  Hot and ready to go. 

Make the white sauce:

4 Tablespoons butter

1 cup whipping cream, half and half, or milk (I usually use skim milk)

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1 garlic clove, minced

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

In a large pan melt butter, add in cream/milk, cream cheese, garlic, and Parmesan.  Whisk together 1-2 minutes until smooth and thickens a bit, then pour over noodles in pan and mix in.

Make the red sauce:

1 lb mild sausage

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 large bottle spaghetti sauce or about 5 cups

Cook sausage with onions and garlic. Drain.  then add spaghetti sauce.  Mix well then pour over noodles with white sauce.

Top with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.  Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through.  Put a cookie sheet underneath in oven to catch spills if it starts to boil over.

You can make this way ahead of time and put in the fridge, you will jut have to bake it closer to an hour.  

Goes perfect with salad and garlic bread.  Enjoy!

What's up Wednesday--beef stir-fry

This is a super easy stir-fry recipe my mom made when I was growing up.  Just marinate the meat for about an hour or you can do it way ahead of time and marinate overnight.  I buy the Costco frozen stir-fry vegetable mix, but have also done it with just broccoli, so whatever veggies you have one hand or your family likes.  Enjoy!

Beef Stir-Fry

Cut beef into thin strips and marinate in

1/4 cup soy sauce

a few dashes of garlic powder

Combine and let set an hour or overnight. 

Mix up your sauce

First mix well together

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon sugar

then add 1/2 cup beef broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce

When ready, cook your meat in a fry pan.  When done, remove and cover to keep warm.  Add veggies to pan and cook until warm.  When veggies are done add in meat and pour sauce over.  Cook for about a minute until sauce thickens slightly and all is covered and heated through.  Serve over rice.

Enjoy!

What's up Wednesday--Chili bow tie bake

So this recipe is not going to get you points for being gourmet, but it will get you points for being a fast dinner that everyone likes--at least in my family.  This is one of my many go-to "get dinner on the table quick" dinners.  It has saved me many a nights when we get home late from a game or school function and everyone is starving.  Hopefully it can help you out too!

Chili Bow Tie Bake

2 cups bow tie pasta, uncooked

1/2 onion, chopped

1 can tomato sauce

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 lb ground beef

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can stewed tomatoes, puree

1/4 teaspoon salt

grated cheddar cheese

Cook pasta, and while that is cooking cook beef with onions and garlic powder, drain.  Stir in all other ingredients except pasta and cheese.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes.  Drain pasta and stir into beef mix.  Heat through and stop with grated cheddar cheese.  

Fast, simple, good,  Enjoy!