Ingredients:
2 packages plain or buttermilk biscuits
1 jar pasta sauce, divided
1 lb Italian sausage
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
Ricotta cheese

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook Italian sausage in a pan over medium heat.

Spray muffin pan.

Press one biscuit into each muffin cup, pressing around the edges forming a cup.

Mix sausage, cheese, and 1/2 cup pasta sauce in a mixing bowl.

Place a spoonful of the sausage/cheese mixture in each muffin cup and
top with a small dollop of ricotta cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Serve with pasta sauce on the side for dipping.

What did the family think? These went over VERY well. I think our oldest went back for thirds.

Where did this recipe come from? Spark Recipes

Ingredients:
2-3 lb pork loin roast
2 jars (8 oz each) Mexican salsa verde sauce
Pinto beans or black beans
Rice
Cilantro
Shredded cheese (Mexican blend or cheddar)
Salsa
Guacamole
Sour cream

Instructions:
Pour salsa verde in slow cooker. Add two salsa jars of water to slow cooker. Place pork roast on top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or high for 4-5). About one hour before you plan to serve roast, shred with two forks.

Prepare rice according to package directions.

To assemble burrito bowls: Scoop a spoonful of rice into bowl, top with cilantro, beans, pork, salsa, guacamole, sour cream or whatever else you would normally put on your Mexican food.

What did the family think? Everyone in our house who is into eating something that’s not pasta loved it. In other words, our youngest was not into it, but I am SO TIRED of telling you that. Also, he does eat. I promise. And not just candy.

Where did this recipe come from? Cozi.com

Ingredients:
4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1/4 cup coarse breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or thyme
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped ham (about 1 ounce)

* If you can’t find small ones, then just buy two large ones and cut them in half.

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F.

Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and salt.

Combine Swiss cheese and cream cheese in a bowl.

Combine the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper with breadcrumbs and parsley (or thyme) in another bowl.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large, ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Move the chicken to the center so all pieces are touching. Spread with the cheese mixture, sprinkle with ham, then top with the breadcrumb mixture.

Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, 5 to 7 minutes.

We had this with mac and cheese and broccoli.

What did the family think? Hubby and I loved it. Kids were not impressed, but our oldest did eat it. Our kids just aren’t huge chicken eaters…that would be an understatement for the youngest one.

Where did this recipe come from? Eating Well

photo from Eating Well

Ingredients:
1 lb mild Italian sausage
32 oz chicken broth
12 oz evaporated
6-8 red potatoes, diced
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach

Instructions:
Cook the sausage in the same large stew pot you’ll use to cook the soup, drain excess fat and return sausage to pot.

Add the chicken broth and evaporated milk and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat so soup simmers. Add potatoes, onions, seasoning, salt and pepper.

The soup is done when the potatoes are cooked through, about 20-30 minutes. Add spinach during the last few minutes of cooking.

What did the family think? My husband is not a huge soup-for-dinner fan and he loved this. I loved it too. The kids did not…they like miso, occasionally a little chicken noodle and any kind of soup with meatballs in it, but that’s about it.

Where did this recipe come from? Cozi.com

photo from Cozi.com

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups rolled oats
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:
Cream butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla with electric mixer on high.

Stir in flour, salt, and baking soda, all at the same time. Stir in oats. Last, add chocolate chips and stir them in.

Press cookie dough into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Dough should be somewhat flattened, but it’s okay for some cracks to remain.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until lightly golden and cookies are set in the middle.

Cool for 20 minutes; cut into 24 squares. Delicious warm or cold!

What did the family think? These are so crazy good, especially with a nice big ice cold glass of milk.

Did I change anything? I reduced the amount of sugar a little. The changes are reflected about. Also, the original recipe called for walnuts which I left out.

Where did this recipe come from? Allrecipes

photo from Tammy’s Recipes

Ingredients:
1 can refried beans
8 oz. jar Cheez Whiz
a few dashes of Tobasco sauce (to taste)
Tortilla chips

Instructions:
Put first two ingredients in a pot over medium heat. Stir. Take off heat when warmed through. Add Tobasco; stir again.

Serve with tortilla chips.

What did the family think? I used to make this for my step-dad all the time when I would come home from college. He LOVED it!

Where did this recipe come from? One of my lovely college roommates

photo from Wikipedia

Ingredients:
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
15 oz can navy beans, drained
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
3 bacon slices, cooked, drained and crumbled, divided
Crackers, baguette slices or warm pita bread

Instructions:
Place onion, parley, thyme, salt, pepper, navy beans and garlic in a food processor fitted with a blade or a blender and process until smooth.

In a small bowl, combine beans, onion mixture, blue cheese and half of bacon. Mix well.

Top with remaining bacon and serve with crackers, baguette slices or warm pita bread.

What did the family think? They didn’t have any of the samples at the grocery store nor have they eaten the one that I made. I don’t have a lot of blue cheese fans in this house. They have no idea what they’re missing.

Where did this recipe come from? Our local grocer

Ingredients:
6 egg whites
1 cup rolled oats, dry
1 cup cottage cheese
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:
In a blender, blend all ingredients until smooth.

Heat a griddle or large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.

For each pancake pour 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle. Flip when they start to bubble. Cook until golden brown. Repeat with remaining batches, spraying the griddle as needed.

We had these with eggs, sausage and fruit salad.

What did the family think? I thought these turned out great. I put a little extra cinnamon in them, so they were great with butter and syrup on them. Everyone else at the table gobbled them down, too.

Did I change anything? Just a teensy bit more cinnamon was added.

Where did this recipe come from? The Biggest Loser

photo from Goop

Ingredients:
6 pork chops
2 cups frozen cranberries
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
water as needed

Instructions:
In a skillet, brown chops slowly in oil; drain.

Add cranberries, sugar, salt and pepper to chops with 1/2 cup water to start.

Bring to boil; reduce heat*. Simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes or until tender but not dry. Add water if necessary to keep chops from drying out.

*Note: It says reduce heat. That means DON’T LET IT BOIL OVER. I made this mistake and let me just say that the sugary cranberry mess left all over my cooktop was a bear to clean up. Sugar caramelizes…yep, it was bad. It smelled like burnt marshmallows.

We had this with risotto and buttery French green beans.

What did the family think? Everybody liked it!!!!

Where did this recipe come from? Allrecipes

photo from Bon Appetit

Ingredients:
½ tsp salt
1 lb ground beef, chicken or turkey
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 ounce) garlic, basil and onion diced tomatoes
1½ cups broth
1 tsp minced fresh oregano or ½ tsp crumbled dried oregano
¼ tsp pepper
8 ounces orzo pasta, dried (1 cup)
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
½-¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Crumble beef into pan and cook, stirring often, until meat begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt.

Reduce heat to medium, stir in onion, and continue to cook, stirring, until onion is soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Spoon off and discard excess fat.

Add garlic, tomatoes and their liquid, broth, oregano, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil then stir in pasta. Reduce heat, cover and simmer gently until pasta is tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, squeeze as much liquid as possible from spinach. Stir spinach into pasta mixture just until heated through. Serve with cheese to add to taste.

What did the family think? I knew the spinach would throw the boys off (even though they eat it ALL OF THE TIME in salads and smoothies) so they had orzo pasta with pasta sauce. Hubby and I liked this dish very much. I am very much looking forward to the leftovers for lunch.

Did I change anything? I like spinach as much as the next person, but I think this might have a had a little too much. Next time I will reduce the amount just a little bit. I also only put in 1/2 an onion. The original recipe called for a whole onion.

Where did this recipe come from? Cozi

photo from Cozi