Delicious Dinner Recipes

I am a stay at home mom with a 1 year old son. I just recently got out of the Air Force where I flew the C-130 (big cargo plane). Although I had fun in the Air Force it is time to move on...start a family and a new chapter in my life. Part of this new chapter is the time I get to spend doing something I have always loved, but never have seemed to have enough time to do it....spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking! Yes, my son does keep my busy, but I am still able to get some good time in the kitchen now that I don't work outside the house, and my son has his favorite cabinet full of his "cooking stuff" that he loves to play in! Growing up I was always in the kitchen helping my mom (I was the only girl of 4 kids!) and she taught me a lot. She also led our 4-H group where we learned how to bake and cook. I also had a grandma who was great at making cinnamon rolls and pies - delicious! Any chance I got I was over at her house helping her bake, which was especially fun since I was allowed to make a huge mess with the flour and sugar at her house! Ever since I can remember my Aunt has given me a cookbook every Christmas (this year it was 500 best ever chocolate recipes - yummy!!!). So now I am excited to use all that I have gained over the years and share with you some of my scrumptious recipes! All these recipes are either family recipes passed on to me, or something I created - usually starting with a simple recipe, or one out of my several cookbooks and then changing it up a little to make it my own...I hope you enjoy!!!

This recipe is quick and easy...

Ingredients

• 1 box (13-16 oz) penne pasta
• 3/4 to 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 pkg (16 oz) frozen bell pepper and onion stir fry
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• Basil, garlic salt, oregano and black pepper to season

Cook the pasta according to the package. In a large skillet over medium-high heat cook the Italian sausage until browned. Add the bell pepper and onion stir-fry and cook for 2-3 mins until hot. Add the tomatoes and spices to season. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 5-10 mins. Add the sausage mixture to the pasta and mix well. Enjoy!

This is a quick and simple recipe that I love and can be changed up to fit your family's taste buds...if you are looking for something more healthy try using whole wheat pasta and turkey sausage. If you like things a bit more spicy, make sure to get the hot Italian sausage - yummy!

This is one of my husband's all-time favorites...hearty and full of flavor!  Ingredients 

• 1-1/2 lbs beef round steak cut into cubes
• 1 t. paprika
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. pepper
• 1/2 t. garlic salt
• 1/2 t. cayenne pepper
• 1/4 c. margarine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 can (4 oz.) sliced mushrooms
• 3/4 c. beef broth
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Bay leaf
• 2-3 T. flour
• 8 oz. sour cream
• 1 package (8 oz) medium egg noodles

Season meat with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic salt and cayenne pepper. In a skillet melt the margarine over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they start to get tender. Add the meat and cook until meat is browned. Add the mushrooms, beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Cook noodles per the package. In a bowl, stir together 2 T. flour and sour cream. Add the sour cream mixture to the skillet and turn the heat to medium. Stir until sauce is thickened and add more flour if necessary. Serve over cooked noodles.

To add more flavor to your meat, marinade in Worcestershire sauce before you cook it. Also, this recipe does not have many mushrooms as my husband is not a fan of them, so may be good to add another can of mushrooms if you like them!

An all-time classic that is all too often blah and dry...hopefully this recipe will have your family excited about meatloaf night!!!

Ingredients

• 1 c. bread crumbs
• 1/2 c. beef broth
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 t. garlic salt
• 1 t. Italian seasoning
• 1 t. pepper
• 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 t. Italian seasoning

In a large bowl, combine first 8 ingredients. Add the beef and mix well (don't be afraid to use your hands - so long as they are clean!). Form beef mixture into a loaf shape and place in a large baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 mins. Combine tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese (optional) and Italian seasoning then pour over meatloaf. Cook uncovered with sauce for an additional 15 mins. Enjoy!

I am a big fan of the slow cooker and this is one of my favorite recipes to make in it - the longer it cooks the better! With the military we lived in North Carolina for awhile and we are now in Kansas City - 2 big barbecue places and a lot of competition out there, but my family still loved these sandwiches!  Ingredients 

• 4 lb pork roast
• 10-12 cloves
• 3 white onions
• 16-24 oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
• salt and pepper
• Buns

Season the pork roast with salt and pepper. Stud the roast with the cloves. Slice 2 onions (about 1/4 in. thick slices) and place 1 on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the roast on top of the onion slices and put the other sliced onion on top of the roast. Fill the cooker 2/3 full of water. Cover and cook on low for 8-12 hours.

Remove roast and discard cloves and any fat or bone. Let the roast cool while you clean out the slow cooker - discard of all water, onions, grease, etc. Chop the third onion and set aside. When the roast is cool enough to handle, use a fork or your hands and pull apart the roast until it is shredded.

Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Mix in the chopped onion and BBQ sauce. Heat on high 1-3 hours. Serve on your favorite style bun. Enjoy!

Tips...

1. If you are serving this for dinner it is best to put it in the slow cooker in the morning. If you would like to serve it for lunch you can put it in the slow cooker at night and let it cook on low all night. This roast cooks for a total of 9-15 hours. If you run out of time, you can cook it on high for 4-6 hours instead of the 8-12, but it may not be as tender and harder to shred.
2. Best pork roast to use is a lean, boneless cut.
3. Don't be afraid to use more BBQ sauce - if you like your sandwiches sloppy and extra saucy...yummy!

This was finally a hit at my house just last week - yeah! My husband is a great critic...and is nothing but honest - which is good, but can be frustrating sometimes! Anyways, I have made this for him a few times and he has never really liked it until now. This is a great do-ahead and freeze recipe and also makes wonderful leftovers!  Ingredients  

• 16 oz spaghetti noodles
• 1/2 lb Italian sausage
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
• Oregano, Basil, Thyme and Garlic to season
• 8 oz low-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti per package directions. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet cook the Italian sausage and ground beef on medium heat. Drain the excess fat and then add the tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings to the meat. Stir until well mixed and increase heat to bring to a boil for 2 mins. Then reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer.

Place the cream cheese in a bowl and soften in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and put back in the microwave for another 30 seconds or until it is easy to stir. Add the Parmesan cheese and milk to the cream cheese and stir until well mixed. Pour this mixture over the noodles and stir until the noodles are evenly coated.

Spread the noodle mixture evenly into a 9x13 glass baking pan. Pour the meat spaghetti sauce over the noodles and top with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 mins and then remove the foil and cook another 10 mins. Let stand for 5 mins, then cut into square pieces and serve. Enjoy!

Variations to this recipe...

1. Don't like Italian Sausage? Use all ground beef, or don't use any meat at all!
2. Don't have time to make your own sauce? Replace the tomato sauce and paste with pasta sauce (Ragu is my favorite!) and pour it straight from the jar over the noodles
3. Want to make this ahead of time and freeze? Cover with foil and put in your freezer...when you are ready to bake it use 45 mins at 350 degrees and 10 mins with the foil off.

I hope you enjoy these recipes...and please check out my other website for more recipes!

www.karians-cookbook.blogspot.com

I just started the website, but I hope to post several recipes, health info, good kitchen tools, etc...and eventually start a weekly menu planner (with grocery list!) once I build my recipe collection. While I do enjoy spending time in the kitchen, multiple trips a week to the grocery store with the kiddo is a different story...that's why I try to make a list every week and hopefully get everything with just one trip!

Thanks for reading!