Chicken dipped in Mayo

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Made: May 1, 2014

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 F
- Combine Hellmann's with cheese in medium bowl
- Arrange chicken on baking sheet
- Evenly top with Mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs
- Bake until chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 20 minutes

Needed something quick and easy for dinner tonight. I used chicken tenderloins. I served this with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

(Recipe used: hellmanns.com)

Pizza with noodles

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Made: March 30, 2014

Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 box (16 oz) uncooked Spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 ounces sliced pepperoni
- 1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce
- 1 can (16 oz) diced Italian style tomatoes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 package (8 oz) shredded Italian cheese blend
- Any other pizza toppings you like (optional)

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Boil water and salt for Spaghetti noodles according to directions on package
- Meanwhile, brown meat until no longer pink, drain
- Once noodles are cooked, drain and put in a casserole dish
- Whisk together egg and milk, pour over noodles
- Combime pasta sauce, tomatoes, garlic powder and oregano
- Pour ontop of noodles
- Top with meat
- Top with cheese
- Top with pepperoni and other pizza toppings
- Bake for 30 minutes

I thought I had bought some extra pepperoni for this recipe, but I did not. So my version is without the pizza toppings. But overall, this had a great flavor.

(Recipe used: found via facebook)

Cheesy Tex Rice

Tex-mex Beef & Rice Casserole

Made: February 3, 2014

Ingredients
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- 1 14 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 11 ounce can corn with red and green bell peppers, undrained
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 1 10 ounce tub PHILADELPHIA Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme, divided
- 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
- 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses, divided
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
- Heat oven to 350 F
- Brown meat in large nonstick skillet; drain
- Return to skillet
- Add tomatoes, corn, onions and 3/4 cup cooking creme; mix well
- Combine rice and 1/2 cup shredded cheese in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; spread to cover bottom of dish
- Top with layers of meat mixture, remaining cooking creme and remaining shredded cheese; cover
- Bake 30 min. or until heated through
- Top with crushed chips and cilantro

I had to improvise, as the store didn't have the Santa Fe Cooking Creme, so I used onion and chive. I think it came out good, very tasty. My rice still stuck to the bottom of my dish, but that's rice for you! I didn't use cilantro though, it's not a welcomed flavor in the house.

(Recipe used: Recipe.com)

Semi-Mexican Chicken

Chicken Taco Casserole

Made: January 30, 2014

Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 12 ounces chicken breast strips for stir-frying
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 medium red or green sweet pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 10 - ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 1/2 cups purchased salsa
- 4 6 - inches corn tortillas, coarsely torn
- 3 ounces reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (3/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 of an avocado, pitted, peeled, and chopped (optional)
- Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with cooking spray
- Preheat skillet over medium-high heat
- In a medium bowl, toss together chicken, garlic, and chili powder
- Add to hot skillet
- Cook for 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently
- Remove chicken from skillet; set aside
- Pour oil into hot skillet
- Add onion and sweet pepper
- Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally
- Stir in spinach
- Coat a 2-quart square baking dish with cooking spray
- Spread about 1/2 cup of the salsa into the bottom of the baking dish
- Top with half of the tortilla pieces, half of the chicken mixture, and half of the vegetable mixture
- Pour half of the remaining salsa over the vegetables and top with half of the cheese
- Repeat layers once, except do not top with the remaining cheese
- Bake, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving
- If desired, garnish with cherry tomatoes, chopped avocado, and/or fresh cilantro

I didn't use avocado or cilantro, but I used the tomatoes and sour cream to use as toppers. I also used onion powder and onion flakes instead of onions. I think it came out very flavorful and I plan on making this sometime again.

(Recipe used: diabeticliving.com)

Ham in the slow-cooker

Honey-dijon ham

Made: December 25, 2013

Ingredients
- 1 bone-in cooked man (5lb)
- 1/3 cup apple juice
- 1/4 packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard

Directions
- In 4-6 quart slow cooker, place ham
- Add apple juice
- In small bowl, mix the brown sugar, honey and mustard
- Spread mixture over ham
- Clover, cook on low heat 6-8 hours
- Remove ham from slow cooker
- Cut ham & serve

I used a 3 pound, boneless ham to fit into our small slow-cooker. (and because we don't have too many people eating ham at Christmas). I used a combined tablespoon of mustard and dijon since the kind we had on hand was a little too zesty for my liking. We also cooked it for about 6 hours and it seemed to come out juicy and flavorful

(Recipe used: Pillsbury Christmas 2010)

Casserole, crab style

Maryland Crab Casserole

Made: December 25, 2013

Ingredients
- 1 pound crabmeat, well-picked
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 5 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted and divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Dash pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

Directions
- Grease bottom and sides of a 2-qt. baking dish
- Combine crabmeat, eggs, parsley, 3 tablespoon butter, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, milk and green pepper
- Gently pat into dish
- Combine bread crumbs with remaining butter; sprinkle on top
- Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes or until set

I added in some old bay seasoning to the top topping. I also doubled the recipe to fill a 3qt dish, but I used 1 can of evaporated milk (which was 1 1/2 cups) which seemed to fit perfectly in the dish. I also omitted the green peppers for my Granny. But 1 tablespoon wasn't much to worry over anyway.

(Recipe used: recipelion.com)

Mock Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Made: November 5, 2013

Ingredients
- 1/2 package of linguine noodles
- 1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions
- Prepare linguine according to package directions in 3 quart saucepan
- Add broccoli during the last 4 minutes of cooking time
- Drain the linguine mixture well in a colander
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat
- Add chicken and cook until well browned and cooked through, stirring often
- Stir soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and linguine mixture in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally
- Serve with additional Parmesan cheese (optional)

I made things slightly different depending on what I had in my pantry. I used cheddar and mozzerella cheese since my Parmesan cheese went bad (oops) but it seemed to have the same taste and mixed/melted nicely. As you can see, I also used Bowtie pasta. I think this came out with a ton of flavor and it was super quick dinner. Boil, cook and mix and poof, you have dinner.

(Recipe used: Campbells.com)

Individual potpies

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Made: October 27, 2013

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
- 8 oz package frozen mixed vegetables; thawed
- 1 (10 piece) refrigerated biscuits
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Flour

Directions
- Heat oven to 350 F
- Spray 10 muffin-pan cups with cooking spray
- Stir the chicken, soup and vegetables in a medium bowl
- Sprinkle flour on the work surface
- Roll or pat the biscuits to flatten slightly
- Press the buscuits into the bottoms and up the sides of the muffin-pan cups
- Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each biscuit cup
- Lightly press the chicken mixture down so it's level
- Top each with shredded cheese
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuts are golden brown and the cheese is melted
- Let the pot pies cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes

I was able to make 16 potpies overall. I had a little bit of trouble with getting the biscuits to fit in the pans evenly so I had some bunching and a couple spots of dough weren't 100% cooked through, but these came out super delish!

(Recipe used: Campbell's)

Chicken with a glaze

Glazed Chicken Nuggets

Made: September 25, 2013

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup Dijon-style mustard
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken-breast hales, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 F
- Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray
- Combine the maple syrup, mustard, molasses, vinegar, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl; mix well
- Pour the marinade into a zip-top bag, reserving 1/2 cup on the side
- Add the chicken to the marinade in the bag and seal
- Chill for 5 minutes
- Transfer the chicken to the baking sheet and sprinkle with the salt and pepper
- Discard marinate in the bag
- Bake the chicken for 10 minutes, then turn and brush with the reserved marinade
- Continue to bake until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 more minutes

 I made this pretty much to the tee, with a few adjustments. I ran out of Dijon mustard, so I added some yellow mustard to fill the 1/2 cup. I didn't use a full 1/2 cup of maple syrup (about 1/3) and I didn't have molasses, so I just left that out. I think the marinade was pretty good with how I made it. Not too sweet, but with the tang of the mustard. A really good contrast. I pared this with some "Chinese Style Rice" from Uncle Ben & some steamed green beans.

(recipe used: recipe my way)

Orange Chicken

Roasted Chicken with Smokey Orange Sauce

Made: August 11, 2013

Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 8 (5-ounce) skinless chicken breast halves (with bone)
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 F
- Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray
- Season chicken all over with salt and black pepper
- Arrange chicken in prepared pan and set aside
- In a small bowl, combine orange marmalade, soy sauce and liquid smoke
- Mix until blended
- Pour mixture over chicken
- Roast 35 minutes, until chicken is cooked through
- Serve 4 chicken breast halves with this meal and refrigerate remaining chicken until ready to use

I used boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts with the bone and I didn't have any liquid smoke; trying to make something with ingredients we already have. I cooked the thighs for 45 minutes instead of 35 to make sure they were cooked all the way through. But they came out nice and juicy and super tender. The sauce wasn't too orangey or bitter, so it was a nice balance.

(recipe used: foodnetwork.com)

Cracker Chicken

Crispy Baked Chicken

Made: July 7, 2013

Ingredients 
Chicken/coating
- chicken tenders (8 pieces)
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Sauce
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- 2 tablespoon butter

Directions
- Crush crackers
- Pour the milk, cheese and cracker crumbs into 3 separate bowls
- Toss the salt and pepper into the cracker crumbs and stir the mixture around to combine
- Dip each piece of chicken into the milk and then cheese
- Press the cheese into the chicken with your fingers
- Then press the cheese coated chicken into the cracker crumbs and press it in
- Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and lay the chicken inside the pan
- Sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken
- Cover the pan with tin foil and bake at 400 F for 35 minutes
- Remove the tin foil, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy
- In a medium sized sauce pan, combine the cream fo chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk
- Stir it over medium high heat until the sauce is nice and hot
- Serve over the chicken

Served with a pasta side & asparagus

I didn't have Rtiz crackers, so I used Townhouse butter crackers instead. I also put the parsley in the sauce instead of over top the chicken. Other than that, I followed the recipe to the point

(Recipe used: found on facebook)

Taco spin-off

Beef Tostadas

Made: May 25, 2013

Ingredients
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless beef round steak
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 12 packaged tostada or hard taco shells
- 3/4 cup fat-free refried beans
- 1-1/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup reduced-fat shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- 3/4 cup salsa

Directions
- Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper
- Place 3 tablespoons of the lime juice, the garlic, jalapeno, onion, chili powder, cumin and cayenne in a slow cooker
- Place beef on top and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8 hours
- Remove beef to a cutting board and when cool enough to handle, shred with fingers or using two forks
- Place shredded beef in a large bowl
- Strain remaining liquid in slow cooker over a bowl or measuring cup, discarding solids
- Add strained liquid and remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice to beef in bowl and stir to combine
- Cover; keep warm
- Warm tostada shells in oven according to package directions
- While tostadas are baking, heat refried beans in microwave for 1-1/2 minutes on HIGH, stirring halfway through until warm and spreadable
- Spread each tostada with 1 tablespoon refried beans
- Place 1/3 cup beef over beans and divide lettuce equally among tostadas
- Top each with 1 heaping tablespoon cheese and 1 tablespoon salsa

I made mine slightly different ... I used ground beef instead of round steak. I browned the beef in a pan with the spices and I used lemon juice instead of lime juice. I also added in a touch of taco seasoning. I also used spinach instead of lettuce and I also used sour cream to add a touch of cool. Also makes a good salad

(recipe used: recipe.com)

Shells Green with Envy

Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells

Made: May 13, 2013

Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) box uncooked jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 2 cups fresh chopped spinach
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15oz) container ricotta cheese
- 1 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 (5oz) package shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 2/3 cups)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 (26oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce

Instructions
- Cook shells according to package directions
- Be careful not to overcook them or they will tear easily when trying to fill them
- Drain and set shells out individually on a cutting board or baking sheet so that they don’t stick together
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Lightly grease two 9x13 baking dishes
- In a large bowl, combine chicken and all the rest of the ingredients except mozzarella and spaghetti sauce
- Stir in 1 cup mozzarella
- Spoon into shells
- Spread half of spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dishes
- Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce
- Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Bake, covered, for 40 minutes
- Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella
- Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes

I had a lot of filling leftover, but I only made 14 shells since we're a small family of 4. I used a Garlic and Onion pasta sauce to go with this and topped it with some shredded cheese. These shells seemed a lot smaller than others I've seen, but they were perfect for us!

(Recipe used: Paula Deen via Facebook)

Fajitas unwrapped

Warm Fajita Salad

Made: May 9, 2013

Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3/4 pound boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin, bite-size strips
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 small onions, cut into thin wedges
- 2 small green, red, and/or yellow sweet peppers, cut into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 10-ounce package torn mixed greens (8 cups)
- 12  cherry tomatoes, quartered
- Red or green salsa (optional)

Directions
- Combine lime juice, chicken broth, cilantro, garlic, and cornstarch; set aside
- Sprinkle beef with cumin, salt, and black pepper; toss to coat
- Coat an unheated large skillet with cooking spray
- Add onions and sweet peppers
- Stir-fry over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender
- Remove vegetables from skillet
- Carefully add cooking oil to the skillet
- Add beef strips; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until desired doneness
- Push to side of the skillet
- Stir lime juice mixture; add to skillet
- Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 1 minute more
- Stir meat and vegetables into mixture in skillet; heat through
- To serve, arrange greens and tomatoes on four dinner plates
- Divide beef-vegetable mixture among plates

I wanted something different and this was just what I was looking for. I also topped mine with sour cream and cheese, opted out of onions and cilantro and garlic. I did use Garlic salt in both the cornstarch mixture and with the steak rub too. I used red, green, yellow and orange peppers, romaine lettuce and some baby spinach.

(Recipe used: Better Homes & Gardens)

Meaty Taco Pasta

"Baked Taco Ziti"

Made: May 6, 2013

Ingredients
- 3/4 bag ziti noodles
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 package cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions
- Boil pasta until just cooked (al dente)
- Brown ground beef; drain
- Mix taco seasoning and 1 cup water in the ground beef; stir for 5 minutes
- Add in cream cheese, stir until melted & remove from heat
- Add pasta into a casserole dish, top with 1 cup of the shredded cheese
- Gently pour beef mixture on top and mix with the pasta
- Top with remaining shredded cheese
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, uncovered, at 350 F, until cheese is melted and the dish is heated throughout

I used a normal sized box of pasta, used about 1/2 for this dish. We made over 4 servings with leftovers. I used a little more than 1/2 of a package of cream cheese and used cheddar jack & mozzarella cheeses. Overall, it came out nice and creamy, gooey and hot!

(Recipe used: via facebook)

Easy Chic & Dumps

Like Grandma's Chicken & Dumplin's

Made: March 25, 2013

Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 2 soup cans water
- 4 teaspoons flour
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

Directions
- Mix chicken, soups, water, flour, bouillon and pepper in slow cooker
- Cut biscuits into quarters and gently stir into mixture
- Cover & cook on low for 4-6 hours

Really good taste. I like the biscuits as the dumplin's, they bring a nice taste to the dish. As for the soups, I used one can of chicken and one can of celery and I used 2 bouillon cubes since I don't have granules.

(Recipe used: Crock-Pot suppers)

Rice & Beans

Salsa, Black Bean, and Rice Salad

Made: March 14, 2013

Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked long grain rice, chilled
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped yellow or red sweet pepper
- 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
- 1 cup bottled picante sauce or salsa
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno chile peppers, cut into 1/4-inch cubes (optional)
- Lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup fat-free or reduced-fat sour cream

Directions
- In large bowl, stir together chilled rice, beans, tomatoes, sweet pepper, corn, onions, and cilantro; add picante sauce or salsa
- Toss to coat
- Stir in cheese, if using
- Line six salad bowls or plates with lettuce leaves
- Top with rice mixture
- Serve with sour cream

I made this with a couple exceptions. (When don't I?) I didn't add in the cilantro or green peppers and I used cheese without the jalapeno chile peppers in it. But I did love the flavor the chili and sour cream gave the mixture. I made mine more like a layered salad. I had my lettuce (strips) on the bottom and then I added the rice. Next came the mixture and then I topped it with the cheese (cheddar and Mozzarella). I really liked this for there not including a main protein.

(Recipe used: Better Homes & Gardens)

Chees'd up Tuna

Sarah's Tuna Casserole Supreme

Made: March 8, 2013

Ingredients
- 16 oz package wide egg noodles, uncooked
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1 - 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 6oz cans tuna, drained
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can golden mushroom souo
- 1/2 pound pasteurized process cheese spread, cubed
- 1 can peas, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup potato chips, crushed
- Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions
- Cook noodles as packages directs, drain and set aside
- In a large skillet over medium-heat, sauté onion and celery in butter until translucent
- Add cooked noodles to skillet
- Stir in tuna, soups and cheese spread
- Cook until blended and cheese is melted, one to two minutes
- Stir in peas
- Transfer to lightly greased baking pan
- Top with cheddar cheese
- Bake, uncovered for at 350 F for 20-25 minutes, until hot and bubbly
- Top with crushed potato chips
- Return to oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, until chips are golden

I love the cheesiness to this recipe. I didn't use an onion and I used 2 cans of Cream of Celery soup instead. I cooked it for about 12 minutes until the cheese was melted enough to top with potato chips then baked for 8 more minutes.

(Recipe used: Gooseberry Patch; Mom's very best recipes)

Non-lasagna

Easy Bowtie Lasagna

Made: March 6, 2013

Ingredients
- 16 oz package bowtie pasta, uncooked
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 32 oz jar spaghetti sauce
- 8 oz container sour cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan chese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Directions
- Cook pasta as package directs, drain and set aside
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown beef and onion, drain
- Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and simmer for 5 minutes
- Mix cooked pasta with sour cream, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder
- In a greased 13x9 pan, layer half of beef mixture and half of pasta mixture
- Repeat layers
- Top with Mozzarella cheese
- Bake, uncovered, at 350 F for about 30 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted

Along with the sour cream, I added in a couple spoons of cream cheese. It's not lasagna without cream cheese!! Overall, I really liked this recipe. I didn't use an onion, so I used Onion flakes instead, just to get that flavor. I also didn't use all the same measurements listed; I only used about 8 oz of pasta and 24 oz of sauce.

(Recipe used: Gooseberry Patch; Mom's very best recipes)

CB Deconstructed

Cordon Bleu Casserole

Made: February 28, 2013

Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 6 oz spreadable creamy Swiss cheese wedges
- 1 cup fat-dree half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon butter-flavored granules
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 1/2 cup cooked ham, diced
- 1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/8 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions
- Cook pasta as directed on package, drain & set aside
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine cheese wedges, half-and-half, butter-flavored granules, garlic salt & pepper
- Cook, stirring often, until cheese is melted and smooth
- Add chicken, ham and cooked pasta
- Stir until well blended and heated through
- Top with shredded cheese and bread crumbs at serving time

I did a couple things differently. I used slices of Swiss cheese, cut up instead of the spreadable wedge as I couldn't find any. They melted quite nicely. I did add in 2 wedges of the Garlic and herb cheese to add a punch more flavor along with some cream cheese and a couple splashes of milk so it wasn't too thick. I used Butter Buds as my "butter-flavored granules".

(Recipe used: Gooseberry Patch; Mom's very best recipes)