Cheesy Baked Mexi-Rigatoni from Picky Palate

My picture of this fabulous dish does not give it justice. Maybe just hop on over to Picky Palate for a much more appetizing picture! I have loved every recipe that I have tried from Jenny at Picky Palate. She is very creative and invents amazing recipes. Her desserts are always winners at my house! Check her out at http://www.picky-palate.com/ . This is one of my favorite casseroles. It is so full of flavor with a little bit of spice. We love it at our house. It is a great way to use up some hamburger meat for us. I am always looking for yummy dishes with hamburger, one because it is a cheaper meat, and 2 because my family will eat it. I love the fire roasted tomatoes in this. They are so tasty and juicy. I used Cheddar Cheese because I didn't have the mexican blend. The other thing I love about this recipe is that there are always leftovers...and they are the leftovers that always gets gobbled up and don't sit in your fridge.

Cheesy Baked Mexi-Rigatoni
From Jenny at http://www.picky-palate.com/

1 lb dry Rigatoni pasta or any other pasta of choice
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 Anaheim green chili’s finely chopped
1 lb lean ground beef
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon Lawry’s garlic salt
1 can cheddar cheese soup
½ Cup milk or half and half
1 Cup sour cream
2 15 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
Heaping ½ Cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves (add more if you love cilantro)
2 Cups Mexican blend shredded cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions, making sure it’s not overcooked. Drain and set aside.
2. Place olive oil into a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Saute onions and chilies until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in beef, salt, pepper and garlic salt; cook and crumble until browned. Stir in soup, milk, sour cream and tomatoes. Stir until well combined. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cilantro and cooked pasta.
3. Pour mixture into a large 9 x 13 inch baking dish or individual size baking dishes of choice, see my link above. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.

I hope there aren't too many more cold wintery spring days left, but anyhow...before you breakout the BBQ and get grilling, try out this hearty mexican casserole. It is sure to please your family and warm them right up!

Homemade Sloppy Joes ... step aside Manwich!!!

Growing up we had sloppy joes quite often with the Manwich sauce... in fact, when I first was married I bought a can of the sauce thinking that the meat was included. Opened it up for a quick dinner and to my dismay... our plans had to change. I was not an expert then, neither am I now, but I have learned a lot since then. One thing I have learned since then is to never buy Manwich again! This recipe for Sloppy Joe's is amazing! It is so saucy and full of flavor. I always get great reviews. However... I cannot take all of the credit because the recipe comes once again from my sister in-law, Tammy. She is an expert. I love the crunch that the veggies give to this sandwich. It is a perfect warm sandwich for a cool September day. I usually serve this with hamburger buns, but I have a new favorite on these soft deli rolls that I buy at Sam's Club. They are soft and delicious. They come in white or wheat and are both my favorite. If you are looking for a quick dinner, this is the one for you. The kids love it and gobble it. I love them with some chips and fruit on the side.

Sloppy Joe's

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 - 10 oz can Tomato Soup
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp Vinegar
1 Tbsp Sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste

Brown your meat and cook veggies together in skillet over med-high heat. When meat is browned, drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes or longer to get all of the flavors to sink in, stirring occasionally. Serve on hamburger buns, hoagie boans, bread, whatever you have! Enjoy!