RECIPE BOX | pizza casserole

Brandon's grandma gave me this recipe at my wedding shower. I love grandma recipes because they are usually simple, easy, and delicious.  I was A-M-A-Z-E-D when Anna gobbled it up (meat and all) so I knew it was something I had to take out and make immediately (and often)!  I especially love this because you can throw leftover ingredients into it.  I usually dethaw leftover noodles from previous meals. Add a little green pepper if you are feeling spicy or a can of crushed tomatoes!

 

PIZZA CASSEROLE

1lb. hamburger (or ground turkey)
1/2 chopped small onion
2 cups cooked macaroni
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 pkg. shredded cheese
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/2 cup puree carrot, cauliflower, squash (for the kid that doesn't eat vegetables)

Brown meat and onion in skillet.  Season with last five ingredients. Combine meat, macaroni and sauce.  Put half of mixture in a baking dish, then add half of cheese, repeat with sauce.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese looks melted.

 

recipe of the week {salmon with roasted vegetables}

This is delicious, fast, and easy.  A no-brainer dinner after an exhausting Monday.

Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

{the goods}
2-4 salmon fillets (wild is always better than farmed)
Peppers *I used orange, green, and red
1/2 a red onion
*I also threw in one sweet potato (I cooked it for 5 minutes in the microwave first so it was already soft)
olive oil
salt and pepper

{cooking}
Preheat the oven to 425 deg.  Slice peppers, onion (and sweet potato).  Spread vegetables out on a rimmed baking sheet.  Pour 2 Tbl of olive oil over top.  Make room for the fillets.  Sprinkle salt and pepper over everything.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until salmon is flaky.

: Real Simple Magazine February 2013 :

recipe of the week {balsamic vinegar chicken}

my recipe of the week has really fallen through the cracks as of lately.  i think the one thing i've learned (or am trying to learn) as a new mom is patience and organization.  planning out our meals each week is becoming an increasingly "must" thing in the shanks household.  if i don't plan out we are scrambling for dinner (sometimes literally scrambling.. eggs that is!) or i'm making something quick and easy that usually ends up not being the healthiest of choices.

i actually have no idea how we lived before pinterest.  i have quite a few friends that say they pin all sorts of things but never do any of it.  however, i actually do use my boards.  and quite often at that! (follow me!)  so thank you again pinterest for saving the day ... or dinner to say the least!

balsamic vinegar chicken with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella

{the goods}
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
4 – 5 garlic cloves (i realized mine weren't "fresh" and had to be thrown out. so i used minced!
1 cup fresh basil (or dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil (or a good dollop... i'm not the best at measuring!)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional, i didn't use any)
1 package of cherry or grape tomatoes (i used blush from costco and they were so delicious)
1/2 red onion sliced
mozzarella (i also added a little cheddar)

{cooking}
Preheat to 350deg. Add a little of the olive oil to the bottom of your pan. Then place in chicken breasts.  Add everything on top so chicken is coated evenly.  Bake for 30-40 minutes.  YUM!