The Cooking Family

Homemade Lasagna

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Homemade Lasagna
Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
 

Why wait in a long line to eat at an expensive restuarant? Try this homemade lasagna recipe and save some money, without scrimping on the taste.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 12 people
Author: Christina
Ingredients
  • 2 jars spaghetti sauce (of your choice)
  • 1 pkg. 5 cheese Italian blend shredded cheese (or Mozzarella)
  • 1 pkg. no bake lasagna noodles
  • 24 oz. Ricotta cheese (or 16 oz. cottage cheese) – you could do 12 oz. Ricotta and 12 oz. cottage cheese for a cheaper option
  • 1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 – 1 1/4 lbs. ground beef (optional)
Instructions

  1. Brown your ground beef and mix with spaghetti sauce, simmer for 30 minutes. (Optional)

  2. Mix your Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and eggs in a medium sized bowl and put aside.

  3. Cover the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with sauce.

  4. Then add a layer of no bake lasagna noodles.

  5. Then a layer of cheese mixture (Ricotta, Parmesan, eggs).

  6. Next add a second sauce layer.

  7. Cover with shredded cheese.

  8. Repeat layers twice for three layers total.

  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, until cheese is brown and bubbly.

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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
 

It's that time of year again where everyone seems to be coming down with a cold. When I'm not feeling good I tend to crave soups, especially chicken noodle soup. Here's an easy homemade chicken noodle soup recipe that's sure to please.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken noodle soup, homemade chicken noodle soup, homemade soup
Servings: 10 people
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil (can substitute vegetable oil)
  • 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (or 3/8 tsp. garlic powder)
  • 1/2 cup medium green onions, sliced
  • 2 cups medium carrots, washed and chopped
  • 20 oz pulled cooked chicken (can used cubed cooked chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken)
  • 8 oz uncooked egg noodles
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp. parsley flakes)
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 12 cups chicken broth (three 32 oz. cartons), do not substitute reduced sodium
  • 1 can mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup celery
  • 1 bay leaf
Instructions

  1. In a 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.

  2. Add garlic, mushrooms, celery, green onions, and carrots. Cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. Add remaining ingredients. Stir and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

  4. Stir occasionally until carrots and noodles are tender.

  5. Remove bay leaf and serve.

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Bourbon Chicken (without the Bourbon)

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Bourbon Chicken (without the Bourbon)
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
 

Like bourbon chicken, but don't want the alcohol. Then this recipe's for you. You get the same great taste, but without the alcohol.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 12-15 chicken tenders)
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup apple or pineapple juice
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar (or 3 Tbsp. chicken broth)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Instructions

  1. Cut your chicken into small 1-2 inch pieces.

  2. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Once it is hot pour 2 Tbsp. olive oil into the skillet.

  3. Add your chicken pieces to the pan and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  4. The chicken will start to get juicy and bubbly. Drain juices and continue cooking in the skillet over medium high heat.

  5. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine garlic powder, apple (or pineapple) juice, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar (or chicken broth), water, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. Wisk until cornstarch is dissolved and all ingredients are well combined.

  6. When your chicken has a nice brown sear on most pieces, add your sauce and stir, covering all pieces.

  7. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover, tilting the lid slightly to let air escape.

  8. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times.

  9. If the sauce is too thick, add a Tbsp. of chicken broth and stir well.

  10. Serve over white or brown rice.

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Skillet Sweet and Spicy Pork Chops

Sweet Spicy Skillet Pork Chops
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Skillet Sweet and Spicy Pork Chops
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
 

Here's an easy to cook pork chop recipe that's got a sweet flavor with a hint of spiciness.

Author: Tracy
Ingredients
  • 4 – 5 boneless pork chops, thick cut
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne powder
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  2. In a medium size bowl, combine the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

  3. Rub the mixture over all sides of each pork chop.

  4. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven­ safe skillet on medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the pork chops. Cook the pork chops for about 5 minutes on each side, until browned.

  5. Check your pork chops with a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is at least 145 degrees. If they are not 145 degrees, place the oven safe skillet in your preheated oven and cook for another 5­ -10 minutes, until the pork chops reach 145 degrees.

  6. Spoon the sauce in the bottom of the pan over the pork chops and serve.

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Tropical Smoothie

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Tropical Smoothie
Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
 

A taste of the tropics to start your day.

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 people
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 1/4 fresh pineapple, cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 apple, cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup ice
Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients together in blender using smoothie setting.

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Edible Cookie Dough

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Edible Cookie Dough

Here's a recipe from my niece. She's just starting to create her own recipes.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Tiffany
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. milk
  • 2 cups chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions

  1. Spread 2 cups of flour on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

  2. Mix flour, brown sugar, butter, salt, vanilla extract, and milk.

  3. Place bowl in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

  4. Remove bowl and add chocolate chips (optional).

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Chicken and Dumplings

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Chicken and Dumplings
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
 

Great for those cold days.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 64 oz reduced sodium chicken broth (8 cups)
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 1/2 lbs. pre-cooked dumplings (I use Mary B brand, but any will do)
  • 8 oz. chopped mushrooms
Instructions

  1. Use 4-5 quart dutch oven to heat broth, chicken, soup, and poultry seasoning. Bring to boil over medium-high heat.

  2. Reduce to low. Cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. Increase to high, bring to low boil.

  4. Add dumplings, carrots, and mushrooms.

  5. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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Crispy Bacon and Cheese Potatoes

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Crispy Bacon and Cheese Potatoes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
 
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: potato side dish, side dish
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 1/2 lb. bacon
  • 6 cups potatoes, cut into pieces
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 3/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in frying pan, making sure slices don't over lap.

  2. Place bacon in cold oven and bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes, until crisp. Then put aside.

  3. Place the potatoes in the bacon grease. Dump extra grease if more than 2-3 Tablespoons.

  4. Spread the potatoes in a single layer.

  5. Season with salt and pepper and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

  6. Stir well and bake another 20 minutes.

  7. Stir again and bake for 15 additional minutes.

  8. Chop bacon and sprinkle over potatoes.

  9. Cover generously with cheese and bake a final 3 minutes, or until cheese melts.

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Spicy Air Fryer Pork Chops

These pork chops have a little bit of a kick to them. Super easy to cook in the air fryer. Recipe calls for 1/2 – 3/4 inch boneless pork chops, but if you have thicker boneless pork chops (1 1/2 – 2 inch) you can cook them for 10-12 minutes on each side at 400 degrees.

Spicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
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Spicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Resting Time
5 mins
 

These pork chops have a little bit of a kick to them. Super easy to cook in the air fryer. Recipe calls for 1/2 – 3/4 inch boneless pork chops, but if you have thicker boneless pork chops (1 1/2 – 2 inch) you can cook them for 10-12 minutes on each side at 400 degrees.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Author: Tracy
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless pork chops, 1/2 – 3/4 inch thick
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees.

  2. Mix all dry ingredients in medium sized bowl.

  3. Coat each pork chop with olive oil and then cover both sides with dry ingredients.

  4. Place 4 pork chops in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes on each side. Do not layer pork chops. If only 2 fit in your basket, cook the first two completely and then repeat for the second two.

  5. Check internal temperature, should be at least 145 degrees. Transfer to cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.

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Superbowl Party

It’s that time of year again. You know when everyone gathers around, eats food, and watches the best commercials…supposedly there’s a football game going on as well.

OK, so no matter whether you use it as a chance to hang out with friends, or watch a football game, Sunday is the day to have some yummy snacks. In fact, if you do it right, you can make a full meal of just snacks and appetizers. So we put together some ideas for you to use to make the most of your time, and keep you from having to cook long hours.

Queso Dip

Want something fast and easy, this is it. It takes less than 10 minutes to make, and can let nearly two dozen snack on this treat. Just add chips.

Queso Dip recipe

Fruit Dip

This fruit dip is a staple in our family gathering. Not just for Super Bowl parties, but any time we gather and want something easy to munch on that a little healthier.

Fruit Dip recipe

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

This one takes a while to cook, but you let your crock-pot take care of that. Prep is simple, and done in just a few minutes with these sweet and sour meatballs. You can eat a bunch as a meal, or a few as a snack.

Sweet and Spicy Meatball recipe

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

Bacon Chicken Appetizers

Warning! Making this might get you invited to all of the parties for the rest of the year. These delicious chicken bites take a little while to make, but they are oh so worth it. Just be prepared to have your friends stab one another trying to get the last one.

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps recipe

Glazed Pineapple Kielbasa Bites

Pineapple Kielbasa Bites

Don’t have as much time to prep your snack bites as you want, well the Glazed Pineapple Kielbasa Bites just might be it. Takes half the time as the chicken bacon wraps, but is still totally delicious.

Glazed Pineapple Kielbasa Bites recipe

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