So sticking to my theme of easy dinners I have two family favorite recipes that require so very little effort, yet taste so very delicious!
This week we started back with ice skating and basketball, which means Monday-Wednesday night we are busy busy people! Since my husband is gone so much that means it's usually me dragging a baby and wrangling two kiddos in and out and around. Thankfully the Lord blessed me with a sweet tempered baby and the ability to breastfeed incognito in any situation.
As easy as it would be to drive through McDonalds, or Burger King..or really any of the fast food resteraunts that are literally mere minutes from our home, I put a lot of weight into a family dinner around the table. We have a tradition of asking each other "what was your favorite part of the day?" and it all just goes from there. So during these busy school and winter sport months I turn to my crockpot as my good old stand by. My sister in law Alison gave me my first crock pot when I was 21, and I didn't truly understand the gift she had given me for a few years. Now I can't imagine life without it!
Crock pot lasagna
Ingredients
2 cups (a whole bag) of shredded mozzerella cheese
1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese
lasagna noodles
2 pounds of hamburger
1 can of Spaghetti Sauce
Parmesean cheese
This week we started back with ice skating and basketball, which means Monday-Wednesday night we are busy busy people! Since my husband is gone so much that means it's usually me dragging a baby and wrangling two kiddos in and out and around. Thankfully the Lord blessed me with a sweet tempered baby and the ability to breastfeed incognito in any situation.
As easy as it would be to drive through McDonalds, or Burger King..or really any of the fast food resteraunts that are literally mere minutes from our home, I put a lot of weight into a family dinner around the table. We have a tradition of asking each other "what was your favorite part of the day?" and it all just goes from there. So during these busy school and winter sport months I turn to my crockpot as my good old stand by. My sister in law Alison gave me my first crock pot when I was 21, and I didn't truly understand the gift she had given me for a few years. Now I can't imagine life without it!
Crock pot lasagna
Ingredients
2 cups (a whole bag) of shredded mozzerella cheese
1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese
lasagna noodles
2 pounds of hamburger
1 can of Spaghetti Sauce
Parmesean cheese
Cook your hamburger as usual, drain, and mix in your sauce
Mix together your cottage cheese and 3/4 of the mozzerella cheese
Spray your crockpot with non stick spray (or use a liner)
Layer your lasagna! Start with the meat sauce, then a layer of uncooked noodles, then a layer of half of your cheese mixture, then repeat!
Mix together your cottage cheese and 3/4 of the mozzerella cheese
Spray your crockpot with non stick spray (or use a liner)
Layer your lasagna! Start with the meat sauce, then a layer of uncooked noodles, then a layer of half of your cheese mixture, then repeat!
Top with remaining mozzerella cheese and parmesean cheese, I also sprinkle some italian seasoning on top.
Set on warm and go. I used to put this together before I left for work and when I would come home it was ready to eat! Make sure to put it on warm and not low if you're going to leave it for more than four hours.
Set on warm and go. I used to put this together before I left for work and when I would come home it was ready to eat! Make sure to put it on warm and not low if you're going to leave it for more than four hours.
I serve with a pre-bagged salad and breadsticks that usually take about six minutes in the oven.
So now we can not forget dessert! Believe it or not this recipe requires even less work than the brownies an my family LOVES it!
I recently told my friend who is a fabulous baker and fancy cake maker that I have made my family elaborate desserts, but if they get to choose they always pick the Dump Cake.
Dump Cake
Ingredients
1 box of white cake mix
1 1/2 sticks of butter
2 cans of pie filling ( our favorite is cherry pie filling with a can of crushed pineapple)
Spray a 9x13 pan with non stick spray (So I buy disposable pans pretty much anytime they're on sale. Less mess, and if I want to drop some goodies off to someone it's no big deal. This cake is great for taking to people since it's easy to put together and pretty big)
Pre-heat your oven to 350
Dump your cans of fruit and/or pie filling into your cake pan
Sprinkle your cake mix all over the top of the filling, use the whole bag
Cut the butter up and lay it out all over the cake
Bake for 45 minutes to an hour
This is something you can just throw in the oven as soon as you get home and then you have a yummy, rich dessert!