Jo Mama's World Famous Spaghetti

Ingredients

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Serves: 10-14

• I have always use a jar of sauce when I made spaghetti. My family is more exicted about spaghetti night now that I use this recipe. I only do half of this recipe. 
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  2 lbs Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or hot)
•  (I use ground sausage)
• 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
• 3 -4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 cups water (for a long period of simmering for flavors to meld. If you don't want to simmer it as long, add less)
• 3 teaspoons basil
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (this makes it pretty spicy. might want to cut back or not use it at all.)
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• 1/4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup red wine (I didn't add this)
• 1 lb thin spaghetti
• parmesan cheese
Directions:
1In large, heavy stockpot, brown Italian sausage, breaking up as you stir.

1. 2Add onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until onions are softened.
2. 3Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water.
3. 4Add basil, parsley, brown sugar, salt, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.
4. 5Stir well and barely bring to a boil.
5. 6Stir in red wine.
6. 7Simmer on low, stirring frequently for at least an hour. A longer simmer makes for a better sauce, just be careful not to let it burn!
7. 8Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
8. 9Spoon sauce over drained spaghetti noodles and sprinkle with parmesan cheese
   Found at food.com

Brown Sugar Bundt Cake

My husband normally skips out on the cake when it is served. I finally found a cake he loves. I have made it for others and they have all loved it as well. 

Ingredients:

Serves: 10-12

• 1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla flavor pudding and pie filling
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

                                     Prep Time: 30 mins

                                     Total Time: 1 1/2 hrs

1. 1 Grease a 10-inch bundt pan well and sprinkle pan with granulated sugar (even if using non-stick pan).
2. 2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. 3 Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil and water in large bowl and beat on medium speed until well mixed, about 4 minutes.
4. 4 (Shorten to 2-3 minutes if using stand mixer).
5. 5 Add brown sugar and pecans and mix to combine well.
6. 6 Pour batter evenly into prepared bundt pan and bake for 1 hour or until cake tester comes out clean.
7. 7 Place bundt pan on wire rack and cool 15 minutes.
8. 8 Invert cake onto rack and slip pan off cake.
9. 9 Let cool on rack.
10. 10 Can be stored covered at room temperature

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/brown-sugar-bundt-cake-42976#ixzz1QdfS0tSc

Tater Tot Casserole.

This is easy to make. My husband asks for it all of the time. I think he got it from his mom.

Ingredients:
2 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 large bag of tater tots
2 c. shredded cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I like more moister so I add two cans)
1 can of milk (sometimes I use one cup of whole milk)

Directions:
Brown beef and onion.  Mix soup and milk together. Layer in 9 x 13 glass cake pan-Tots,beef,soup mix then add cheese on top
cook on 375* for one hour.

Pot Pie

 

This is always a big hit.  Even the kids love it.  I even got the comment from a little boy "This is the best day of my life"

 I like to cut up the vegetables earlier in the day when I have extra time.  This help dinner prep. go a lot faster.

This is always a big hit.  Even the kids love it.  I even got the comment from a little boy "This is the best day of my life"

 I like to cut up the vegetables earlier in the day when I have extra time.  This help dinner prep. go a lot faster.

This is always a big hit.  Even the kids love it.  I even got the comment from a little boy "This is the best day of my life"

 I like to cut up the vegetables earlier in the day when I have extra time.  This help dinner prep. go a lot faster.
EThis

 This is always a big hit. Even the kids love it. Tonight we had friends over for dinner. As we were eating this pot pie their 7 year old said.  "This is the best day on my life"

I like to cut the vegetables up earlier in the day when I have extra time. It helps preparing this meal go a lot faster. 

Ingredients :

• 1 cup potato, diced
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup carrot, diced
• 1/3 cup melted margarine
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
• 2 pie crusts (either store bought or your own recipe) Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 1 hr

Total Time: 1 3/4 hrs

1. 1 Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. 2 Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in margarine for 10 minutes.
3. 3 Add flour to sauteed mixture, stirring well, cook one minute stirring constantly.
4. 4 Combine broth and half and half.
5. 5 Gradually stir into vegetable mixture.
6. 6 Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
7. 7 Stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.
8. 8 Pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with pie shells.
9. 9 Cut slits to allow steam to escape.
10. 10 Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/delicious-chicken-pot-pie-10744#ixzz1ParvYBXr

creamy cajun chicken pasta - a favorite

Here is a Favorite to start off with.  

creamy cajun chicken pasta

Ingredients:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• 4 ounces linguine, cooked al dente
• 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning (we use Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning and Tony Chachere's Special Herbal Blend Spice N' Herb Seasoning
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 thinly sliced green onion
• 1 -2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil (We add a little more)
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

1. 1 Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
2. 2 In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter or margarine until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
3. 3 Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.
4. 4 Pour over hot linguine and toss with Parmesan cheese.  (You can top with Parmesan cheese. We skip this step at out house)

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-39087#ixzz1PYpfZRTD

Why?

I am starting this blog so I can save all of my favorite recipes. I would also like others to share as well.  I tend to cook meals that are simple and fast.  I don't have a lot of extra time to spend in the kitchen.  Hope you enjoy this blog!