Baked Mostaccioli

Okay. First of all, I know this isn't really mostaccioli - I used penne noodles. In my defense, I wanted whole wheat noodles and I couldn't find them in the mostaccioli shape. (Would you believe that each time I have typed "mostaccioli", I have spelled it a different way?) At any rate, no matter what shape of pasta you use, this recipe is delicious. I served it with some spinach and we were full & happy. As usual, I adapted the recipe from the original, which can be found here.

Baked Mostaccioli

8 ounces uncooked mostaccioli (or penne!)
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups (16 ounces) fat-free cottage cheese
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and italian seasoning. Drain pasta. Spread 1 cup meat sauce into an 9x13 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with half of the pasta, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Top with cottage cheese mixture. Layer with remaining pasta, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered,for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Makes 6 servings

Menu Plan Monday

Whew. It's been awhile since I planned a weekly menu. I have missed the structure and the time savings that preplanning provides. This week is fairly low key: no school on Monday, a couple double shifts at work for my husband, and babysitting two infants (plus caring for my own 13 month old) for me. I'm trying to focus on healthier, more nutritionally complete meals. That said, I still have to please a picky tween, the baby and my husband, who has food allergies. It can make meal planning a challenge, since they rarely agree on what to eat. Here's what we'll be trying out this week:

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew, biscuits, apple crisp (recipe to be posted)

Steak, mashed potatoes, mashed rutabagas (for my husband), corn on the cob, fruit

Shredded chicken tacos, spanish rice, fruit

White Chicken Chili, cheesy jalapeno corn muffins (recipe to be posted), fruit

Baked Mostaccioli (recipe to be posted), spinach, fruit

Broccoli Cheese Soup, biscuits, fruit

Breaded Fish Fillets (recipe to be posted), sauteed squash and zucchini, fruit

For more great menus, click here!

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew

We are trying a new recipe for beef stew today. My general method involves the crockpot, a seasoning packet, and what later turns out to be too many potatoes, carrots & onions. This recipe intrigued me, due to its use of the rutabaga. I also like the idea of baking it in the oven, just to change things up a bit. Everyone enjoyed this stew - even the baby. I've adapted a bit to suit my family's taste, but the original recipe can be found here.

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew

1-1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
3 celery ribs, chopped
1-1/2 cups cubed peeled sweet potatoes
3 large carrots, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup cubed peeled rutabaga
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the beef, vegetables, soup mix and seasonings. Seal bag and shake to coat evenly. Put meat & veggie mix into a 13x9 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour water over beef & veggie mixture. Cover and bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours. If you like more broth, add another 1/2 cup water. Uncover and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until beef and vegetables are tender. Serves 4-6, depending on hunger levels.

This recipe was shared at The Grocery Cart Challenge and Mommy's Kitchen.

Spazz Attack Is Here!

Cassady, tween sensation, has ventured into the blogging world. I've featured some of her writing in the past, here on my blog. Her school essays were just the beginning though. She is now taking on more of a challenge, with daily topics, pictures and even polls to answer!

Go listen to some fun music while checking out her creative project...enjoy!!
(That was my way of warning you about the autoplay :)

Spazz Attack

Get ready for the Anime...