Cheesy Sausage Zucchini Casserole

I got this recipe off of allrecipes.com. I love it, and so does everyone else in my family. I changed it a little from what is on allrecipes. Here is my version:
3/4 c uncooked rice
1 1/2 cup water
1 pound pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced fresh tomato
4 cups cubed zucchini squash
1 can sliced muchrooms, drained
1 (8oz.) package shredded cheese
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch dried basil
1 pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Combine the rice and water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 min. or until tender. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 350
3. Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until evenly browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in zucchini and tomatoes, and cook until tender. Stir in rice, mushrooms, and cheese. Season with oregano, basil, cayenne, pepper, and salt. Spread into a 9x13 casserole dish.
4. Bake, uncovered, for about 15-20min until cheese is melted and starting to bubble.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1/2 cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT oven to 400°F.

COOK chicken in pan with a little salt and pepper, and oil.

MIX tomatoes, stuffing mix, water and garlic just until stuffing mix is moistened.

LAYER chicken, basil, cheese and stuffing in 3-qt. or 13x9-inch baking dish.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy now or cover and refrigerate. To reheat, microwave each serving on HIGH 2 to 3 min.

Poppy Seed Chicken

This is just another variation of chicken and sauce with rice, but it was a nice change.

chicken
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom (or cream of chicken)
1 cube of butter (I NEVER USE THAT MUCH, IN FACT, USUALLY I DON'T USE ANY!)
1 stack of Ritz Crackers, crushed
2 T. poppy seeds

Mix sour cream and soup. Pour over chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Crunch crackers on top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and drizzle with melted butter. Cook about 45 min at 350.
There is no picture because I didn't take one.

Basic Chicken Salad

So I know that everyone has chicken salad recipes that they like....my favorite is the one that Becky makes...I don't think that recipe is on here. We should get it on here.
I had a lunch/playdate with a friend and her kids today and was trying to think of something easy and yummy for lunch. Amy suggested chicken salad on flat bread pitas. It was delicious, and it was a nice change on the pita bread. The recipe that Amy gave me was from allrecipes.com. It is the Basic Chicken Salad. To be honest, I have never made chicken salad. I am not sure why. I guess I usually just wait for someone to make it for me. This recipe was really easy, but I am assuming that they are all really easy because this tasted just like most that I have had. I left out the fruit and nuts for lunch (we ate the leftovers for dinner and I added grapes and stuff then.) I also added onion and garlic powder.
Anyway, easy and delicious.

Basic Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
• 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
• 1 stalk celery, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

Baked Ziti

I know I posted this on my old blog. I hope I haven't posted it already on this one but I looked and can't find it. I made this the other night and forgot to take a photo. This is literally one of my family's favorites.

1 lb. dry Ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. lean ground beef of sausage (I use sausage, but not the spicy kind.)
If a pound is too much, use less.
2 (26 oz.) jars of spaghetti sauce
6 oz. Provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups of sour cream
6 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tbls. Parmesan cheese, grated (I use a lot more than that.)

Cook your pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.

In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef or sausage over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pam a 9x13 baking dish.

Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until cheeses are melted.

*This recipe makes a lot. For those of you with small families, I would definately cut it in half and bake it in a 8x8 dish.

Taco in a Bag

This isn't so much a recipe but more of an idea. A few years ago when we were at Lagoon, I ordered a "Taco in a Bag." It was one of the best meals I've had, mainly because I was starving. I loved the idea though of putting all your taco fillings into the bag of chips. A year later, I did this for our Blue and Gold banquet and the boys LOVED it! It's not very often you get to eat out of a bag! I also did this for dinner the other night as well. (It saves on dishes and the kids think it is fun.)

My pictures aren't the best, not that you really need to see what it looks like. Taco's at the Babcock's are pretty mild considering no one will eat the "good stuff." But, if I was making this for a group of people other than my picky children :), I would add rice, beans, olives, tomatoes, onions, guacamole and salsa. Just crunch up the chips and I usually cut an inch or so off the top of the bag.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I haven't made these yet, but have heard they are AMAZING! I have made a lot of different recipes for chocolate chip cookies so I can't wait to try these. I am posting this so I won't loose the recipe..I am sure I will be making these soon so I will post a pic later!

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temp if possible)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (feel free to throw in the whole bag if you like them super chocolate-y)

Cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar together in a mixer. Then add the eggs, one at a time. Beat until creamy. Add the vanilla.

In another bowl mix the dry ingredients together before slowly adding them to the creamed mixture. When combined, stop the mixer and add the semi-sweet chips. Mix up and then drop by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Mold them into a ball as best as you can with the spoon for a more shaped cookie.

Bake on 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

(Make sure you use a high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chip like Ghirardelli. You won't achieve the same results with Nestle or Hersheys sadly)

Cream Cheese Chicken Sauce

This is another Babcock favorite. The picture doesn't make it look very appealing but it really does taste good.

6 Chicken Tenders
1 Can Chicken Broth
1 Packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Package of Cream Cheese

Cut your tenders in bite size pieces and combine with chicken broth in crock pot. Add Hidden Valley Ranch packet and stir together. Cook on low for 5 hours. Then add Cream of Chicken Soup and Cream Cheese. Turn crock pot up to high and let cook for 30 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles.

*My friend tried leaving the tenders whole but the one can of broth just isn't enough to cover them. You can also reduce the fat and salt by using a lower fat cream cheese and a reduced sodium chicken broth. I have tried the low fat Cream of Chicken Soup but I could tell a difference as well as my kids. You could also make this healthier by using brown rice.

This tastes very rich and has a lot of flavor. You really don't need a lot of sauce. You can also add more chicken. My kids won't eat a lot and sometimes they will pick out the chicken so I only put in the 6 tenders.

Bubble Pizza

Bubble Pizza

(Here is another recipe that most my kids will actually eat. It's easy and it's one that they can make themselves.)

2-3 cans of refrigerated biscuits
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 pkg. of shredded mozzarella cheese (I like to grate my cheese from a block, I think it melts better.)
Any favorite pizza toppings: pepperoni, ham, pineapple, sausage (browned and drained), bell peppers, olives, mushrooms, onions, etc...

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.

Prepare any pizza toppings: slice, dice, chop veggies, etc... and set aside.

Remove biscuits from can and cut each biscuit into quarters. Place them a medium sized mixing bowl. Poor spaghetti sauce over biscuits and toss to coat. Add sauce until the biscuits are no longer sticking together. Pour into a 9 x 13" baking dish. Top with ground meat, toppings and cheese. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

(I've also poured the sauce on top of the biscuits after I have cut them and placed them in the pan. Either way...it works.)

Ranchero Fish (or Chicken)

That is real garnish. Not photoshopped garnish like Amy cooks up!

4 fish fillets(catfish, tilapia, or chicken)
1 c finely crushed tortilla chips (crumb size)
2 tsp chili powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
3 T limejuice
1 T vegetable oil
1 c of your favorite salsa
¼ c minced fresh cilantro
Preheat oven to 450. Lightly oil a baking sheet.
Mix crushed chips, chili powder, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Mix limejuice and oil in another shallow dish.
Dip fish in the lime mixture, then immediately dredge in the seasoned tortilla crumbs to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle fish with any remaining chips. Bake 8-10 min or until crisp and golden or when fish flakes (longer for chicken)Warm salsa in a small saucepan over low heat. Arrange fish on plate and spoon ½ cup (or to taste) of salsa over top of each serving. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve.