Alfredo Sauce

2 Cups low fat milk
1/3 Cup (3oz) low fat cream cheese
2 TBSP flour
1 Tsp kosher salt
1 TBSP butter
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. In blender, blend milk, cream cheese, flour and salt until smooth and set aside.
2. In a large, non stick saucepan, melt butter on medium-high heat and add the garlic.  Keep stirring so butter doesn't burn.
3. Add the milk mixture to the pan.  Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until it comes to a simmer.  Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more or until the  sauce thickens, about 6-7 minutes. 
4. Once the sauce has started to thicken, remove from heat.  Whisk the cheese into the sauce and immediately cover the pan.
5. Allow the sauce to stand for at least 10 min before using.  It will continue to thicken upon standing.
6. Serve immediately. If refrigerate leftovers, add a TBSP of milk one at a time until desired consistency is reached.
7. Serve over noodles.  Also can add grilled chicken.
If baking from frozen, thaw, bake 400 degrees for 45 min.
Yield 8 Servings

Pirate Ships- Char copy cat

This isn't a specific amount recipe, so I apologize for that.  Each 8 X 8 pan has 12 shells in it.

Jumbo shells
Meatballs
Spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella

Cook shells according to package directions so they're flexible, but not all the way done.

Simmer meatballs in sauce until they're warmed through.

Put one meatball in each shell.  (That's the pirate in the ship, yo!)

Place in dish.  Dump the sauce left in the pan on top and top with cheese.

Freeze now or bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  If frozen, thaw and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Rigatoni

3 Cans (15oz)Petite Diced Tomatoes
3 Cans (15 oz) Tomato Sauce
1 Tsp Garlic Salt
1 Small Can Mushrooms (optional, I left them out)
1/2 Small onion
1 Lb. Ground Beef
1 Tbsp. Butter
Salt to taste
Rigatoni Pasta ( I use elbow macaroni because it cooks faster and is easier for my kids to eat)

For crock pot method, dump all cans and garlic salt into crock pot.   Brown ground beef, drain, add to crock pot.  Saute onion in butter using the same pan you browned the beef.  Add to crock pot. Add salt to taste. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 20 min before ready to serve, cook noodles.

If cooking from frozen: Defrost, cook on stove for 30 min.  20 before ready to serve, cook noodles.

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

2 Cans Cream of potato soup
1 Can kidney beans (drained)
1 Can black beans (drained)
1 Can great white beans (drained)
2 Small cans diced green chilies
1 Can chopped tomatoes
1 Pkg. taco seasoning (I like taco bell brand)
Shredded chicken or beef
1 Can of water
Combine all ingredients and crock pot on low heat for 6-8 hours
If you pre-cook chicken or beef crock pot on low for 4 hours

Top with shredded cheese and eat with tortilla chips.  My family also tops with sour cream. ( I don't like it though.)

Hamburger Soup

1 Lb. Ground Beef
2 C. Diced Potatoes
2 C. Sliced Carrots
1/2 Sliced Celery
1 C. Chopped Onion
1/3 C Barley
1 Can 15 oz. Tomato Sauce
8 Cups Water

 In a large pot, brown ground beef. Add other ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on stove 25-20 min. Top with grated cheese. 

Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti
10 10

• 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked al dente
• 1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 (28 ounce) jar pasta sauce, divided
•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.

1.  Cook ziti according to package directions; drain; set aside.
2.  Mix ricotta, egg, parsley, 1-1/2 cups of the mozarella cheese, and parmesan cheese in a large bowl.
3.  Mix cooked sausage and pasta in with ricotta mixture.
4.  Mix in 3/4 jar of sauce.
5.  Transfer mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish.
6.  Top with the rest of the sauce and mozarella cheese.
7.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
8.  To heat: Thaw. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10-15 minutes more.