Friday, February 20, 2009

Mom's famous spaghetti

Ok, this is one of my mom's classic recipes. And anyone who has tried knows that there isn't a marinera sauce out there that can beat it. I asked her for the recipe not too long ago and she didn't even have it! She had to make the sauce and write down what she was doing because she usually just throws the ingredients in. One day I hope to be able to cook in that way! Just throw things in without a recipe! Well, here you go... it is really yummy!

Ingredients:

2 bottles Newman Marinera Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 packets of McKormick Thick & Zesty Spaghetti Sauce mix
1/4 cup sugar
Ground Beef

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Add remainder of ingredients and stir until mixed well. Cook in skillet for 15 minutes and serve.

**As you can see this makes a TON of sauce. I have halfed the recipe and it is still delicious. I usually make this when I am taking a meal to another family and there is enough to feed mine as well!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

I found this recipe on All Recipes.com It says it feeds five, but Steve, Reagan & I ate most of it with just one serving left over. (Steve could have been extra hungry, but keep that in mind).

Ingredients:

2 slices of bacon
8 ounces penne pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
3. In a large pot with boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Drain.
4. In a medium skillet saute the chopped onion, and minced garlic. Take off heat and add chopped cooked bacon and set aside.
5. To make the sauce, in a medium saucepan melt the butter or margarine over low heat. Once melted, add the flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and continue stirring until thickened. Stir in 2 cups of the grated cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
6. Combine cooked pasta, sauteed vegetables and bacon with sauce. Pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Add the last cup of grated cheddar cheese to top of mixture.

Bake uncovered in preheated oven until cheese on top is melted and brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm.

**You will love the flavor of the sauteed onion, garlic and bacon in this rich and creamy macaroni and cheese bake. The secret to the cheese sauce is constant stirring over low heat. Add the milk just a bit at a time and keep stirring!