One Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce

One Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce- Have dinner on the table in no time at all! Pasta, cheese, sauce and ground beef make up this easy dish. 

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Ingredients Needed

• Ground beef
• Dried spices: onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper
• Penne pasta
• Spaghetti sauce
• Chicken broth 
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese

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Can I Use Another Type of Pasta?

Yes. I either use penne pasta or rotini for this dish. It's smaller in size and cooks up quick.  Stick with something similar in size for the recipe to work. Keep in mind, it will need to be dry pasta.

Pasta Sauce

Use your favorite jarred version, make it homemade or you can also use a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes.  They will all work! 

Can I Use Another Type of Protein?

Of course!  If you don't like ground beef, go with ground turkey, ground chicken, crumble Italian sausage or a meatless crumble option.

Chicken Broth

None on hand?  It can be replaced with water.

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One Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies- Classic oatmeal cookies jammed packed with chocolate chips. 

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 Ingredients Needed

• Flour + Salt + Baking soda
• Oats
• Butter
• Ground cinnamon
• Brown sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla
• Chocolate chips

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Can I Use Raisins Instead?

Yes, of course! Actually, this recipe is for oatmeal raisin cookies.  I use chocolate chips instead, because, well, nobody in my house likes raisins. 🤷  You can also add chopped walnuts or pecans. 

Butter

Be sure it's softened before using! This will give your batter its creamy consistency.  Need to soften it quickly?  Here are a few tips. 

Old Fashion or Quick Cooking Oats?

Honestly, you can use either.  If you use the old fashion variety, you can pulse them a bit in your food processor to grind them up a bit.

Why Do I Have to Refrigerate my Dough?

Refrigerating the dough will help your cookies from spreading.  It will also give you a fluffier texture in  your cookies.  Refrigerate it for about two hours or pop it in the freezer for 45 minutes.  

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Potato Cheddar Soup

Potato Cheddar Soup-Hearty soup filled with potatoes, carrots and cheddar cheese. A perfect dinner for the fall season. 

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This is my Mom's "Hearty Potato Soup" recipe.  It is soooo good and really simple to make. Serve it with a side of crusty bread for a great dinner on a chilly day.

Ingredients Needed

• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chicken broth
• Milk
• Flour
• Butter
• Dijon mustard
• Cheddar cheese
• Dried Spices:  salt, pepper, garlic, minced onion

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Recipe Notes

Potatoes

I like to grab a bag of Dutch baby potatoes for this.  It makes life a little easier.  They are easy to cut into quarters and many times, they are already pre-washed.  It's also great for measuring.  However, my Mom liked to use white potatoes ( approx 3-4 medium size)  for hers. 

To Peel or Not to Peel

My Mom liked to peel and chop her potatoes for this soup.  I do not.  That is also why I like to use the Dutch baby potatoes for this.  No peeling needed.  Honestly, it's your own personal preference.  If you want to peel your potatoes, go for it.  If not, you can skip the step.

Milk

Whole milk, whipping cream or half/half will work for this.  Go with a full fat version, for a nice, creamy soup. 

Puree the Soup?

If you like your potato soup a little smoother, feel free to puree it with a stick blender or stand up blender. 

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Potato Cheddar Soup

Magic Cookie Bars

 Magic Cookies Bars- The classic gooey bars made up of sweetened condensed milk, flaky coconut, crunchy nuts and chocolate.  They are too good to pass up! 

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 Technically, this recipe is right from Eagle Brand.  However, my Mom made these bars at multiple holiday celebrations.  They are soooo good! It's hard to eat just one.

Ingredients

• Graham cracker crumbs
• Butter
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Chocolate chips
• Shredded coconut
• Walnuts or pecans

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Recipes Notes and Tips

• Be sure to line your pan with foil and spray the foil generously with non stick cooking spray.  These bars can be sticky! So, this step will help make bar removal much easier.
• Nuts? You can use chopped ( or finely diced) walnuts or pecans.
• If desired, you can use low fat/fat free sweetened condensed milk as an alternative.  Just be sure you use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk! 
• Store any leftovers in a covered container in your refrigerator.  If desired, you can freeze these too! Let them cool completely, then, store in a freezer safe, covered container or storage bag. 

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Magic Cookie Bars

Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken with Bacon

Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken with Bacon - Flavorful chicken made with brown sugar, garlic and crispy bacon.  Side this with your favorite rice, potatoes or pasta for a delicious meal that even your pickiest eater will love. 

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We eat a ton of chicken in our house.  A ton.  It's about the only thing ( besides pasta) that everyone will eat and be happy. 

This recipe I actually discovered many years ago and it was originally for wraps.  But, I gave it my own twist and we eat it with mashed potatoes, rice or of course, pasta.  Side this with your favorite starchy side to soak up all the goodness of the sticky sauce!

Ingredients Needed

• Chicken breasts
• Garlic
• Brown sugar
• Bacon
• Cumin
• Bacon
• Salt/Pepper

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Will This Work with Chicken Thighs?

Yes. I have made this with boneless, skinless chicken thighs and it tastes just as amazing as the chicken breasts.  The only difference is your cooking time.  You can cut back your cooking time for the thighs about 2-3 minutes on each side.

Can I Use Turkey Bacon?

Sure.  However, turkey bacon does not give you as much grease as regular bacon.  So, you may need to add some oil to your pan when cooking the chicken.

How Long Should I Cook My Chicken?

I recommend cooking each breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side.  Now, this time can vary, depending on the size/thickness of your chicken.  If your chicken is thin, cook a little less, thicker, cook a bit more. Make sure the internal temperature of your chicken is at least 165 degrees before serving.

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Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken with Bacon

Buttermilk Waffles

 Buttermilk Waffles- Classic waffles made with buttermilk. They are easy to make and freeze great! Serve them with your favorite fruit, syrup or enjoy them plain. 

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 Waffles = great for breakfast, brunch, dinner or even a snack. 🖒

Ingredients Needed:

• Flour + Baking powder + Salt
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Oil
• Sugar

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Recipe Notes

Buttermilk

None on hand?  Whisk 1/4 cup of vinegar or lemon juice into your milk.  Let it sit for 5 minutes, then, proceed with the recipe as noted below.

Oil

A neutral tasting oil  (canola/vegetable/sunflower) is recommended for best results.  If you don't have any in your kitchen, you can replace it with melted butter.

Storage

Keep any leftovers in a sealed container/storage bag in the refrigerator.  If desired, you can also freeze these.  Store in them a freezer safe, covered container or storage bag.  For both storage options, simply reheat them in the oven or toaster when you are ready to eat.

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Buttermilk Waffles