Barbecue Lasagna

An interesting twist on your usual lasagna recipe.  Great for the summer when you're all in the mood for barbecue anyway, or for the winter when you can't grill but miss that tangy taste.

Barbecue Lasagna

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 cup Ketchup
1 Green Pepper -- chopped
3/4  cup Onion -- chopped
1/2  cup Brown sugar
1/4  cup Lemon juice
4 tsp. Cider vinegar
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. Mustard
1 clove Garlic -- minced
1 tsp. Salt
1/2  tsp. Pepper
1/4  tsp. Chili powder
1/4  tsp. Lemon pepper seasoning
9 Lasagna noodles - cooked
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella
2 cups Shredded cheddar
1 cup Cottage cheese
1 Egg
1/4  cup Parmesan cheese

Fry beef, drain, and set aside. Combine next 13 ingredients in a large skillet. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in a 9 X 13 pan. Layer 3 noodles, 1/3 of beef, 1/3 of sauce, and 2/3 cup each of cheddar and mozzarella. Repeat layers twice. Combine cottage cheese and egg. Spoon over top. Sprinkle with Parmesan.  Cover with tin foil and bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Berry White Ice Pops

A quick and simple popsicle recipe -- the best kind, right?

Berry White Ice Pops

1/2 cup Whole milk
1 tsp. Honey
1/4 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 cup Frozen mixed berries

 Place berries in popsicle molds, slicing to fit, if necessary. Mix remaining ingredients and pour into molds. Freeze.

Banana Almond Sandwiches

Doesn't get much easier than this!  Still, a little more prep than a PBJ, and nice enough you can serve it to company.  Great for picnics!

Banana Almond Sandwiches

2 Bananas
1/3 cup Almonds -- chopped
1/8 cup Honey

 Mash bananas with a fork. Mix with almonds and honey.  Spread both on bread.

Balsamic Roasted Sausage and Grapes with Linguini

One of our more unique pasta recipes!  

Balsamic Roasted Sausage and Grapes with Linguini

3/4 cup Sweet Italian sausage
3/4 cup Hot Italian sausage
3 cups Seedless red grapes
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. Oil
2 tbsp. Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 lb. Linguini -- cooked according to package -- reserve 1/2 cup pasta water
1/2 cup Pesto
1 bag Spinach salad mix

Place the sausage and grapes in a greased 9 x 13 pan. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oil, and water. Pour over sausages. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn sausages and bake for 10 more minutes. Allow sausages to cool, and then slice. In a large bowl, combine the linguini, pasta water, and pesto. Toss to coat. Add remaining ingredients, including pan juices.

Baked Turkey Sandwiches

A quick recipe for hot sandwiches.  Nothing fancy, but still tasty!

Baked Turkey Sandwiches

6 Hoagie Rolls -- split
8 oz. Smoked sliced turkey
1 Green Pepper -- sliced
1 small Onion -- sliced
1 can Spaghetti Sauce
6 oz. Velveeta -- sliced

 Spread roll halves with spaghetti sauce. Layer on remaining ingredients and close rolls. Wrap in foil and bake at 400 degrees for ten minutes.

Bedford Falls Cheese Ball

I got this recipe from an It's a Wonderful Life recipe book years and years ago -- I think I re-titled it myself.  It's the first cheese ball recipe we ever made, and even though we've branched out considerably of late, this is still my favorite.

Bedford Falls Cheese Ball

2 (8 oz) pkgs spreadable cream cheese -- softened
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 small onions -- finely chopped
2 slices ham -- finely chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp green bell pepper -- finely chopped
1 cup walnuts -- chopped

 In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the walnuts; cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour. Form cheese mixture into ball and roll in walnuts. Serve with crackers or veggies.

Baked Spaghetti

Remember what I said about casseroles being comfort food?  This is like a meta-comfort food -- spaghetti turned into a casserole!

Baked Spaghetti

1 lb. Spaghetti – cooked according to package
1 lb. Ground beef
1 Green pepper – chopped
3/4  cup Onion – chopped
1 15 oz. can Tomato sauce
1 8 oz. can Tomato sauce
1 3 oz. package Pepperoni
1 can Mushrooms – drained
1 4 oz. can Sliced black olives – drained
1/2  tsp. Basil
1/2  tsp. Oregano
1/2  tsp. Garlic salt
1/2  tsp. Pepper
1/2  tsp. Salt
3 cups Shredded Mozzarella
1/2  cup Parmesan

Fry beef in a large skillet; drain fat. Add green pepper and onion; saute. Stir in tomato sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and seasonings; heat through. Spoon 1 cup meat sauce into a 9 X 13 pan. Layer half of spaghetti and half of sauce; repeat layers. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.