Chook Me!

Pasta & Casserole?

Anyone know some great pasta and casserole receipies? I cook dinner for my boyfriend since he works 7 to 7 and his mom cooks dinner at like 5 so he misses out. (We're only 18, freshly graduated) I am a pretty good cook but I want to try some new things. We have steak, homemade chicken noodle soup, fried summer sausage and potatoes, homemade pizza, and spaghetti quite a bit. (some of our favorite foods) I want to switch it up a bit every now and then though. *We're both pretty picky *We don't eat mexican, chinese, or seafood *We love Italian & traditional american food *We're not a huge fan of mushrooms and stuff like that *Please don't tell me to "open up to new foods" obviously I have or I wouldn't know I don't like them (: Thanks Much!! (:

Public Comments

1. I am italian and this is my fave dish: Authentic carbonara- just fry some bacon with olive oil, cook the pasta, in the mean time break 2 eggs and mix them in a bowl with salt and pepper, when the pasta is done mix it with the bacon and add the egg. Stir everything and then add parmesan cheese. Enjoy :)
2. Since you two are picky eaters the best thing that I could suggest is this website. http://allrecipes.com/ I haven't found a recipe there that I didn't like. And my husband is a picky eater. Good luck
3. Good tutorial http://www.searchoptima.com/make_pasta.Recipe http://www.searchoptima.com/make_casserole.Recipe
4. Here's a link to EASY pasta recipes: http://easy.betterrecipes.com/easypastarecipes.html You can use this for casseroles: http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,easy_casseroles,FF.html Seriously, now and then, try to add one new ingredient or seasoning to a dish. Branching out can be fun when you find out something new really tastes good.
5. Cheesy Ham and Hash Brown Casserole - You can substitute bacon, sausage, smoked sausage too! INGREDIENTS 1 (32 ounce) package frozen hash brown potatoes 8 ounces cooked, diced ham 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of potato soup 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, mix hash browns, ham, cream of potato soup, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese. Spread evenly into prepared dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly brown. Serve immediately. ****************************************************** Broccoli Chicken Casserole -- INGREDIENTS 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1 pound broccoli florets, cooked 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (or chicken) 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup dry stuffing mix DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Boil chicken until tender and shred or cut into bite size pieces. Meanwhile, steam broccoli until crisp but tender. In a small bowl mix together the soup and mayonnaise. Set aside. In a 9x13 inch baking dish layer the chicken, broccoli, soup mixture, and cheese. Sprinkle dry stuffing mix over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. ***************************************************** Let's See: You can make beef tips over rice or noodles. This is how I do it. I do not like mushrooms either. Take a pound of stew meat and season with salt, pepper and garlic. Saute in pan (to brown) and place in crock pot. Add 1 can beef broth or 2 beef cubes and 2 cups water. Cook on low about 6 hours or until tender. Drian. When almost done, cook half bag of noodle or rice and make 1 packet brown gravy. Mix gravy and meat (simmer in pot will make it better) and put on top of rice or noodles. SO GOOD! ******************************************************* You can make a pasta bake. Cook noodles, mix in 1 jar pasta sauce and 1 pound cooked hamburger and top with italian cheese mix. Bake at 400* til cheese is melted. Simple! ***************************************************************
6. No need for the mushrooms in the recipe if you don't like them. It will still be very good. This is a recipe that I actually use. It's nice to be able to make a large amount and freeze in smaller containers. CHICKEN TETRAZZINI 1(16 ounce) package angel hair pasta 1/2cup chicken broth 4cups chopped, cooked chicken 1(10 ounce) can cream of celery soup 1(10 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup 1(10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup 1(8 ounce) container sour cream 2(6 ounce) jars of sliced mushrooms, drained 1/2cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1teaspoon pepper 1/2teaspoon salt 2cups shredded cheddar cheese Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. Return to pot and toss with chicken broth. Stir together chopped chicken and next 8 ingredients in a large bowl; add pasta and toss well. Spoon mixture into 2 lightly greased 11 x 7 baking dishes. Sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Note: I divide the mixture into 4 large size disposable aluminum loaf pans. Freeze unbaked casseroles up to one month. Thaw casserole overnight in refrigerator. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature and bake as directed (may to need to adjust the time a bit.)
7. If you like casseroles then a tater tot casserole might work well for you. Pretty easy, hamburger, mushroom soup(I know your not a big fan, but they are tiny pieces in that type of soup) a little sour cream, cheese and tater tots. Here is the link: http://www.cooking-is-easy-and-fun.com/Tater-Tot-Casserole.html
8. Buy some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and put in a baking dish. Add about 1 cup of Italian dressing (the kind for salads-not Zesty) cover and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie of your choice. (You can cook any pasta and put the "juice" over it for a hot salad like pasta, add diced tomatoes to it if you like.) Use the juice off the chicken as gravy on potatoes, rice, or pasta OR use as a dipping sauce for the chicken.