Simple Pasta Salad

We love the boxed Suddenly Salad, there's nothing wrong with it and it's easy to make, everyone loves it.  However at the store it was $3.99 a box (Fry's) and we needed 2 boxes for a book club meeting.  So we came up with a copycat recipe.  We made it our own and it turned out pretty darn good!  You can add what you want to yours, but here is a simple recipe to get you started.  BTW, I since found Suddenly Salad at Walmart for $1.69 a box, much better, not sure why it was so high at Fry's...  We will make this recipe lots because it's super simple and economical and great side dish for BBQ's, potlucks, etc.

BTW, everyone at the book club (ages 6-12) ate it up, we had no leftovers!


Simple Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 box pasta (14-16 oz) (we used tri-colored rotini)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (we used regular but you might get away with lowfat)
• 1 packet of Good Seasons Italian recipe mix (located by the salad dressings at the store)
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup bacon bits
• 1 tsp salt (we like kosher)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (we like it cubed, but you can use shredded if desired)

Cook pasta according to directions.  In a mixing bowl, add the mayo, the seasoning mix, the bell pepper.  Mix well.  Once the pasta is done, add it to the mayo mix, add the bell pepper, mix well.  Let cool completely before adding the cheese otherwise it will melt (we made this mistake).  It was still very tasty though. 

Here's what you need:

Boil some water for the pasta

Boil according to package instructions

In a mixing large bowl, add mayo

Seasoning packet

red bell pepper

bacon bits or real bacon

After mixing well, drain the pasta and add to the mayo mix

Mix well and once it's cooled add the cheese

Store in fridge til ready to serve!

Cheesy Baked Pasta

Meet Maci.  She wants to be a chef/baker when she grows up.  She is making an easy baked pasta dish. 

Here's the recipe:

Cheesy Baked Pasta

1 lb of ground beef
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic clove (2 cloves)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce

2 cups cottage cheese or ricotta
1 egg
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated or freshly grated)
1 tsp italian seasoning or oregano
1 tsp garlic powder

 8 oz. Mozzarella Cheese, slices or shredded


1 pound of pasta, cooked, drained.

Brown the meat, add salt, pepper, garlic powder.
Add the spaghetti sauce, simmer on low for 10-20 minutes.

Mix the cottage cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, italian seasoning and garlic powder, set aside.

Cook pasta, drain and rinse.

Use a 9 x 13 pan, ungreased, layer sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, keep layering until it's done, top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 

Serve with steamed brocoli and garlic toast.


Picture tutorial:

Gather all the ingredients

Brown the hamburger

Add the spices

Continue browning the hamburger

Add the spaghetti sauce to the browned meat, continue simmering about 20 minutes or so.

In a bowl, add cottage cheese



grate the parmesan

about 1/2 cup

one egg

spices

combine cottage cheese and parmesan

 

Add spices

Add egg

stir

until well combined, set aside

cook up some pasta

drain and rinse pasta

Start by layering some sauce, then add noodles, about 1/3 of each.

Add 1/3 of the cheese mixture

spread the cheese mixture evenly

Another layer and then another

Top with mozzarella cheese, slices or shredded

Cover the entire top

Bake 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  I wish you had smellavision, it smells so good in here!