Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant Lasagna

6 strips lasagna

24 oz. ricotta cheese

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup cottage cheese

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 medium eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced

2 quarts spaghetti sauce, with meat

5 slices provolone cheese

2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp. basil leaves

In large kettle cook the lasagna in boiling water for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and cover with cold water. Set aside. 

In large bowl combine ricotta, cottage, ¼ cup Parmesan, Italian seasoning and eggs and mix together well.  In lightly greased lasagna baking dish lay three pieces of lasagna in bottom. Cover with one third of the cheese mixture. Layer with meat from spaghetti sauce (I use my own homemade so I slice the sausages and meatballs into bite size pieces). Top with one third of the eggplant slices. 

Spread one third of the cheese mixture over the eggplant, then another layer of meat and sauce two more times. 

Cover with last three slices of the lasagna and place provolone cheese over pasta and then cover with remaining sauce.  Sprinkle with 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese and basil leaves.  

Bake covered at 350º for one hour. Remove cover and bake 15 more minutes. Let stand 30 minutes before serving.

© Crackerberries 2015

Tuna Pea Wiggle

Baked Tuna Pea Wiggle

One of the easiest suppers I've made.

2 cups egg noodles

5 oz can tuna fish

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 cups frozen peas

1½ cups bread crumbs (2 slices)

½ cup milk

2 tbsp butter

¼ tsp pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp ground marjoram

Cook and drained noodles according to package instructions. Drain tuna fish.  Mix milk and mushroom soup together.  Combine noodles, peas and soup together in lightly greased baking dish. 

Melt butter.  Toast bread, and break into tiny crumbs.  Combine bread crumbs with peppers and marjoram.  Pour melted butter over top and toss to combine. Spread crumb over top of noodles.  Bake in 350° oven for 30 minutes until bread crumbs are browned and wiggle is bubbling.

© Crackerberries 2013

Macaroni and Cheese

"Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni!"

Macaroni + Cheese

2 cups elbows pasta

1 ½ cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups milk

2 cups fresh broccoli florets

2 tbsp flour

2 tbsp butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.  In medium sauce pan melt butter, stir in flour until smooth.  Pour in milk all at once and stir constantly over medium heat until it starts to thicken.  Add cheese and stir until melted.  Combine with macaroni and broccoli.  Place in lightly greased glass baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake 350° 35-40 minutes until bubbly and top is golden brown.  Serve immediately.  We have ours with pig ears, AKA fried bologna.

© Crackerberries 2012

Shepherd's Spaghetti Pie

Pasta Style Shepherd’s Pie

½ lb spaghetti

½ lb ground beef

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

4 stalks celery, diced

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup diced banana peppers

1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 packet onion soup mix

½ cup stout beer

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

1 cup milk

1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Fresh ground black pepper

Break spaghetti into thirds and cook according to package instructions.  Drain, rinse and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Sauté onion and celery in olive oil for 2-3 minutes; add ground beef, peppers, and garlic and continue cooking until burger is no long pink.  Add garlic, onion soup mix and beer and cook just until well blended and bubbly.  Spread mixture in lightly greased baking dish.

In medium sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and add milk all at once.  Stir constantly over medium heat until it starts to thicken.  Stir cheese just until it starts to melt.  Add pasta and mix well.  Pour past mixture over top of meat and vegetables.

Bake 350° for 30-35 minutes, until top starts to brown.  Remove from oven and let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.  Add ketchup if desired.

© Crackerberries 2012

Kugels

Garlic and Onion Kugels

Kugels originally were made from bread and flour, but later made with egg noodles and cottage cheese.  Later eggs were incorporated into the mix.  It is a specialty for Jewish holidays that is thought to bring unusual spiritual blessings.  Traditionally Kugels are baked in a single large pan, but using a muffin tin makes for the perfect serving size and each one has its own tasty browned edges.

1 cup pasta shells

1 stick butter

2 onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1¼ cup cottage cheese

1¼ cup sour cream

1 tbsp poppy seeds

4 eggs

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat to 425°. 

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse.

In heavy skillet, melt butter over medium heat.  Brush muffin tin with some of the butter.  Add onions and garlic to butter and cook, stirring often until well browned (15-20 minutes).  Transfer buttered veggies to large bowl and stir in pasta, sour cream, cottage cheese and poppy seeds.  Lightly beat eggs with salt and pepper and add to past mixture.

Spoon into muffin tins (fill to tops).  Bake until puffed and golden, 25-30 minutes.  Loosen edges of kugels with thin knife as soon as they come out of the oven, then let cool about 5-10 minutes before removing from the pan.  Serve as a side dish with meat or makes a great breakfast treat.

© Crackerberries 2012

Pasta Bake

Sloppy Joe’s Pasta Bake

2 cups mixed pasta (shells and elbows)

1 onion, diced

1 cup chopped green/banana peppers

1 lb ground beef

(You could use a can of Manwich Sloppy Joe to make this even quicker and easier)

2 cups tomato sauce

½ cup ketchup

¼ cup V-8 juice

½ tsp ground marjoram

½ tsp ground thyme

½ tsp garlic salt

1 tsp basil leave

1 tsp oregano leaves

1 tsp fresh ground pepper

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to  350°.

Cook pasta according to package instructions.  Drain.

In Dutch oven, brown ground beef with onions and peppers.  Add spices, tomato sauce, V-8 juice and ketchup and cook just until bubbly.  Drain water from pasta and add to ground beef mixture.  Mix well.  Sprinkle with cheese and bake 350° 20-30 minutes until cheese melts and is slightly golden.

© Crackerberries 2012

 

Cheesy Chop Suey Bake

6 cups prepared chop suey

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

¼ cup parmesan cheese

Combine parmesan cheese and Monterey Jack cheese together.

Preheat oven to 350º.  Place three cups chop suey in lightly greased 8x8 baking dish.  Cover with cheddar cheese and top with remaining chop suey.  Sprinkle with Monterey Jack and parmesan cheese; cover and bake 350º for 30 minutes.  Remove cover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese bubbles and is slightly golden.  Cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2012