Oodles of Noodles

This recipe is my mother-in-laws. I love it but my husband refuses to eat it since he recently realized it contained Creamed Corn. Don't let that scare you off though, it's time to put that forgotten can of cream corn in the back of the pantry to use.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Rotini Noodles
• 3 Cans Creamed Corn
• 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 2 Cans Rotel
• 16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Brown and drain meat and return to skillet; add corn, Rotel, and chili powder
• Cook mixture over medium heat about 20 to 25 minutes
• Prepare noodles according to package directions
• Place noodles in a 13" x 9" casserole dish (The Pampered Chef "Rectangular Baker" works perfect here)
• Pour the mixture over the noodles and cover with cheese
• Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes

Tara's Sidenote (Just imagine this is me, whispering over your shoulder in the kitchen, creepy huh? lol jk) Most people prefer to serve this dish with some tortilla chips

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Ranchball

I call this recipe "The Brain" when it is presented it sort of looks like a brain, I'll admit it, it can be kind of intimidating if you haven't ever tried it before but once a person tries it, they're hooked!

Ingredients

• 1 Package Hidden Valley Ranch Original Dip Mix
• 1/2 Cup Mayo
• 16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese (room temp)
• 2 Packages Cream Cheese (room temp)
• Real Bacon Bits

Preparation

• Combine in a large bowl (Yep, The Pampered Chef "Classic Batter Bowl" is my bowl of choice here) the dip mix, mayo, and cream cheese, mix with an electric mixer
• Mix in the shredded cheddar
• Cover bowl with saran wrap (or your super nifty "Classic Batter Bowl" lid) and place in freezer for 30 minutes
• Remove from freezer and divide into 2 balls of equal size
• Roll the ball in bacon bits
• Place the balls on small plates and wrap up tightly. Place in fridge until ready to serve
• Serve with crackers, but beware, they are super addictive

Tara's Sidenote * It is imperative that you allow the cream cheese to reach room temperature or else it will be next to impossible for your electric mixer to mix it.

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Sausage Balls

Now I'm pretty sure that this is an original Bisquick or Betty Crocker recipe from WAY back in the day. I love to make these during the holidays, they get gobbled up so fast.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ground Breakfast Sausage
• 1 1/2 Cups Bisquick
• 8 oz Jar Cheese Whiz (If you haven't had Cheese Whiz then you haven't yet lived, cuz this stuff is amazing)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (I prefer The Pampered Chef "Classic Batter Bowl")
• Make small balls and place on a cookie sheet (The Pampered Chef "Large Bar Pan" does well in the freezer and it keeps the balls from getting too done on the bottom in the oven)
• Freeze until firm, about 20 to 30 minutes
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes

Tara's Sidenote: They can also be placed in freezer bags instead of on a cookie sheet and be prepped ahead of time)

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Broccoli Casserole

This recipe comes from my momma and it is my favorite recipe ever!

Ingredients

• 2 Bags of Frozen Broccoli (little pieces, not big ones)
• 1/2 Block Velveeta Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup Breadcrumbs

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Boil broccoli according to package directions and set aside (yep, your house will definitely stink like broccoli)
• Cut Velveeta into small cubes and put into microwave-safe bowl with milk
• Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Continue this step until cheese is melted and liquidy
• Place broccoli in a 13" x 9" greased casserole dish and pour cheese mixture over it (I use The Pampered Chef "Rectangular Baker")
• Gently mix; then add breadcrumbs and mix
• Cover and cook for 45 minutes
• Remove from oven, sprinkle with a handful of breadcrumbs and return to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes

Tara's Sidenote * If the mixture seems to runny after the first cup of breadcrumbs then continue to add more breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

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Cheesy Bacon Penne

Now this recipe is by far my husband's fav! I think he'd eat it every night if I let him. And yes, you've guessed it, not the healthiest, but hey, we use wheat pasta most of the time so that should count for something.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Uncooked Penne Pasta
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
• 3 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 2 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1/2 Cup Crumbled Bacon

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook bacon, drain, and chop (The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper" makes this part so much easier)
• Cook pasta according to package directions for al'dente, drain, and set aside
• Mince garlic (I use The Pampered Chef "Garlic Press" because it keeps my hands from getting all stinky)
• In a saucepan, saute garlic in butter for 1 minute, then stir in the flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add the milk
• Bring the mixture to boil; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until thick
• Reduce heat; stir in 2 cups of cheese until melted; remove from heat
• Add pasta and 1/3 cup bacon to the cheese sauce
• Transfer to a 2 qt baking dish (I use The Pampered Chef "Deep Covered Baker")
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes
• Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon
• Bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted

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Cheeseburger Pasta

So this is the homemade version of Hamburger Helper. I got this from my good friend Sara a few years ago and she'd probably laugh if she knew how often I still make it.

I love recipes that I can just throw together with some of the random stuff I've got in the kitchen and this is definitely one of them. My whole family loves this recipe and if you knew my kids you would know what a feat that is.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
• 1 Can of Beef Broth
• 1/2 Cup of Ketchup
• 1 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup
• 1 1/2 Cups Water
• 2 Cups Uncooked Shell Pasta

Preparation

• Cook ground beef in skillet and drain (I use The Pampered Chef "Stainless Mesh Colanders")
• Place ground beef back in the skillet and add soup, broth, water, ketchup, and pasta
• Heat to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes stirring often

Yep, that was it. It is seriously that easy.

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BBQ Bacon Meatloaf

This ain't your grandma's meatloaf. Yes, this recipe is just as fattening as it sounds but it is SOOO good. One of these days.... when I'm not being forced to be lazy I'll take step-by-step pictures like the fancy blogs do and post them here. But until then I guess the ingredients and steps will have to do.

Ingredients

• 12 oz Chopped Bacon
• 1 1/2 to 2 lbs Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
• 1 1/2 Cups BBQ Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Corn Flake Crumbs
• 1 Small White Onion Chopped
• 1 Egg
• 6 oz Shredded Cheese

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook bacon over medium heat until browned, drain, and chop in The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper"
• Mix together in large bowl (I prefer The Pampered Chef "Stainless Mixing Bowl Set") the ground beef, egg, and BBQ sauce
• Using The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper" chop the onion into small pieces and "crumb" the cornflakes
• Mix in the onion and 4 oz of the cheese, then add all but 1 Tablespoon of the bacon
• Mix in the cornflakes
• Shape into a loaf and place into a meatloaf pan (I recommend a pan with ridges in the bottom to keep all the fat away from the food, like The Pampered Chef "Small Ridged Baker")
• Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon
• Return to over for 5 minutes or until melted

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