Dish 44 - Grandma Ellie's Canned Corn & Spaghetti Casserole

Grandma Ellie's Canned Corn & Spaghetti Casserole

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups canned corn, drained
1 cup cooked spaghetti
1 egg
1 cup milk
Rolled cracker crumbs
Several Strings of bacon, finely chopped

Method:

1. Butter casserole dish.
   
2. Alternate layers of corn and spaghetti.
3. Beat egg and milk and pour over corn and spaghetti.
4. Top with rolled cracker crumbs and bacon.
5. Bake in moderate oven (300oF) until corn mixture is thoroughly heated and bacon crisps.
   

Notes: I think that next time I make this, I'll put in less milk and at least one more egg... there was quite a lot of liquid in the casserole, even after I'd left it in the oven for quite a while. Also, it might be nice to put some grated cheese on top, before placing in the oven.

Recipe Source: Grandma Ellie's recipe tin

Dish 39 - Creamy Tortellini Casserole

Creamy Tortellini Casserole

Prep Time: 20min; Total Time: 35min; Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
1 packet fresh tortellini
1/2 cup finely crushed buttery crackers

Method:

1. Heat oven to 350oF. Spray casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Cook carrots and onion in butter about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in flour and salt. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in cheese, peas and tortellini. Spoon into casserole dish. Sprinkle with crackers.
4. Bake uncovered about 15 minutes, or until edge begins to bubble.
   

Recipe Source: From Betty Crocker

Dish 25 - Penne with Spicy Sauce

Penne with Spicy Sauce

Serves 6; Prep Time: 30min; Total Time: 30 min

Ingredients:
1 pkt (16 oz) penne pasta
1 can diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese

Method:

1. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, in fry pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook garlic, red pepper flakes and parsley in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic just begins to turn golden. Stir in chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
2. Add pasta and 1/4 cup of the cheese to mixture in fry pan. Cook about 3 minutes, tossing gently until pasta is evenly coated. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
   

Notes: By adding a small amount of cut up salami to the recipe, perhaps after adding the tomatoes, I think this would really enhance the dish all the more.

Recipe Source: Based on Betty Crocker's recipe

Dish 24 - Butter & Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

Butter & Garlic Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients:
Knob of butter
1/2 red onion. sliced thinly
8-10 cherry tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
Sea salt
Pepper
Pasta, cooked al dente

Method:

1. Saute onion in butter until it begins to brown.
2. Quarter tomatoes and add to the pan, then add garlic.
3. Add salt & pepper to taste, then once tomatoes are shriveled, stir in cooked pasta.
4. Serve
   

Recipe Source: Based on a recipe from Kitchen Lab

Dish 12 - Mediterranean-Style Chicken & Pasta

Mediterranean-Style Chicken & Pasta

Prep Time: 25min; Total: 25min; Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive or canola oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups 3/43-inch pieces cooked chicken breast
1 can (14.5oz)diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8oz) tomato juice
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, quartered lengthwise
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Method:

1. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2. Meanwhile, in fry pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Add zucchini and garlic; cook 2 minutes. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano and basil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender and mixture is hot. Stir in loves.
3. Pour chicken mixture over pasta. Top with feta cheese; toss to coat.
   

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker

Dish 9 - Lusterman Style Tuna Fish Casserole

Lusterman Style Fish Casserole

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna fish
1 box elbow macaroni
1 can peas - drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pkt potato chips

Method:

1. Boil macaroni according to package directions - drain.
2. In oblong cake pan - mix the macaroni, drained green peas, tuna fish and cream of mushroom soup.
3. Crunch up the bag of potato chips and sprinkle them on top of the tuna fish mixture.
4. Back in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes.
   

Notes: Makes HEAPS, so a little unsuitable for our small family, unfortunately, as it's not really reheatable or freezable due to the potato chips. I did have it for lunch the next day, and it certainly tasted good, but the chips didn't have quite the same crunch!

Recipe Source: Family recipe

Dish 7 - Grandma Ellie's Pasta Sauce

Grandma Ellie's Pasta Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 cup finely cut celery
1 chopped green pepper
250gm of pasta of choice

Method:

1. Combine ingredients (except pasta) and simmer 20 minutes.
2. Serve over cooked pasta.
   

Notes: Really easy to make, especially when you don't have much in your pantry/fridge. It doesn't look that appetising when plating, but has a surprisingly lovely taste. Sweet from the sugar, with tang from the vinegar and sauce. Wouldn't want to have it all the time, but good in emergencies!

Recipe Source: Grandma Ellie's Recipe Tin

Dish 4 - Beef Lasagne

Beef Lasagne

Serves: 4-6; Prep Time: 20min; Cook Time: 35min

Ingredients:

400g lean beef mince
575g jar Leggo's Hidden Veg Pasta Sauce - Bolognese
1 packet fresh or dry lasagne sheets
565g jar Leggo's Bechamel Pasta Bake
1 cup grated tasty cheese

Method:

1. Brown beef mince in a saucepan.
2. Add bolognese sauce and heat through.
3. Spoon 1/3 cup of meat sauce over the base of a 20cm x 30cm ovenproof lasagne dish. Cover with a layer of fresh or dry instant lasagne sheets and 1/3 of the sauce. Repeat layers twice and finish with a layer of sheets.
4. Pour over Bechamel Sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 200oC for 35 minutes for fresh sheets or 45 minutes for instant sheets.
   

Notes: If I were to make this again, I would increase the mince to perhaps 500g as there wasn't really enough to cover 3 layers sufficiently. Also, I'm not sure why it happened, but I think the jar of Bechemel Sauce might have been too runny and it seeped into the lasagne, leaving the top layer of lasagne sheets exposed and therefore didn't soften during cooking so was hard.

Recipe Sources: Woolworths catalogue

Dish 3 - Bow Tie Pasta with Capsicum

Bow Tie Pasta with Capsicum
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 min; Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

50g salami, sliced into strips
250g bow tie pasta
1 large red tomato, finely chopped
1 tsp sugar
1 yellow & 1 red capsicum, cut into strips and sliced on the diagonal
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
100g snow peas, halved and lightly cooked
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley & chopped olives to garnish

Method:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil. When the water boils, add the pasta and cook until al dente.
2. Sprinkle the tomato with the sugar and set aside.
3. Prepare the vegetables and other ingredients.
4. Heat the oil in a large pan and gently saute the capsicums and garlic until tender. Add the salami and snow peas then toss together briefly. When heated through, add the tomato.
5. Drain the pasta and add to the pan and toss together to combine well.
6. Season with salt & pepper. Serve the pasta topped with the cheese, parsley and olives.
   

Recipe Sources: Woolworths

Notes: Easy and delicious!