Lasagna

I grew up in a little mining/railroad town. I think every nationality lived there. It was so fun to grow up with so many different cultures. We learned to enjoy so many different things and so I love all kinds of food just as long as there isn't too much heat in the spices. This is just a regular lasagna but add a few bread stix,  a beautiful salad and family and you have a feast.

Recipe:

Sauce:


6 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
1/2 tbsp. basil
1 tbsp. parsley
2 tbsp. onion flakes
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic
1 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 pound hamburger, lean
1/4 pound sausage
9 lasagna noodles
Cottage cheese
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese, shredded

In a large saucepan simmer first 8 ingredients . Boil noodles according to package directions.

Fry the meats together and drain well. Do not add to the sauce yet.

Reserve one cup of sauce to dip bread stix in. Pour 1/2 cup of sauce in a dripper pan (9x13) and spread it around. Now add the meat to the sauce.

Place 3 noodles over the sauce and pour meat sauce on top of noodles.

Spoon cottage cheese down the middle of each noodle.

Add another layer of noodles and sauce. This time sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Add a third and final layer of noodles and sauce. On this layer make sure the sauce covers all of the noodles. Cover with as much mozzarella cheese as you like. I usually use about 8 ounces.

Cover with foil and bake on 325ºF for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown the cheese. If you are making bread stix make them while lasagna bakes.

Aunt Becky's Italian Chicken

Another one of those simple to prepare meals. Sometimes I make extra mashed potatoes on Sunday just so I can have an easy day in the kitchen on Monday by making this chicken. Sorry no finished picture on a plate. We got excited to eat it I forgot to take a picture.

Recipe

4-6 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix
3 Tablespoons butter

Place chicken breasts in a baking dish or crock pot. Combine soup, sour cream and dressing mix in a bowl. Pour over chicken. Dot with butter. Cover. Bake at 300° for 2 hours or in the crock pot on low for 4 hours.   Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Italian Pasta Salad

Summertime and salads are the perfect combination. This salad is especially great for Summertime when you don't want to spend hours cooking or shopping for food. You can just throw anything from your garden into it and it is fantastic.

Recipe

1 12-oz. pkg. pasta, any kind but Rotini is so fun
All or any combination of the following:
Broccoli, chopped
Zucchini, diced
Cucumber, diced
Grape tomatoes
Carrots, diced
Green peppers, diced
Snow peas
Olives, sliced
Cheddar cheese, cubed
Parmesan cheese
1 12-oz. bottle Kraft Zesty Italian (the Zesty one is the best)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Cool pasta. Add remaining
ingredients. Pour most of the dressing over salad, stir well and refrigerate. Before serving sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and add more dressing if desired.