Lasagna Lasagne time!!!

No matter if you spell it with an A or an E -- lasagna or lasagne is always yummy!!!  We are not fans of ricotta cheese so this recipe doesn't include any (add it in if you like it and make it yours!)

Here is what you will need:

1 Box of Lasagna Noodles (cooked per the instructions on the box)
2 Jars of your favorite sauce (I use Classico Sweet Tomato Basil)
1 to 2 pounds of Ground Beef - check out Zaycon Foods for fresh from the farm 93/7 ground beef
Garlic Salt
Oregeno
Italian Seasoning
Sliced or Shredded Mozzerella Cheese (I prefer sliced but shredded will do!!!)
Sliced Provolone Cheese

Put the ground meat in a frying pan and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of garlic salt and 1/4 teaspoon of oregeno and 1/4 teaspoon of italian seasoning.  Brown meat and drain if necessary.

Add the two jars of sauce and stir in another teaspoon of garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of oregeno and 1/4 teaspoon of italian seasoning.  You can adjust these amounts to your liking!  Make it yours!!!!  Turn the heat down to low and let it simmer while you are getting the noodles and other ingredients ready!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  If you haven't already done so, make the noodles (when they are done boiling you can run them under cold water to make them easier to handle).  In a 9x13 dish put a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom (helps prevent sticking).  Once you have the sauce on the bottom you are going to do the following layers:  1. Noodles.  2.  Sauce.  3.  Cheese.  On the first round you will use one kind of cheese (mozzerella or provolone).  One the second round of noodles, sauce cheese you will use the one you didn't use the first time.  Then just keep putting in the layers and alternating the cheese:

When you get your dish all filled up (or are just about out of sauce)....finish up with sauce on top and then add some cheese to the very top...

Put it in the 350 degree oven for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly!  We were so hugry by the time it came out of the oven that I almost forgot to take the final picture.....

Serve it up with some garlic bread and enjoy!!!

Seal A Meal -- awesome price right now -- great for bulk buys!

Well....if you buy your meat in bulk and freeze it, I'm sure you've had it happen that you pull some out of the freezer only to find that it's freezer burnt and has those nasty ice crystals all over it.  I buy my ground beef, chicken and bacon from Zaycon Foods (it's fresh from the farm...you can see my post about it HERE).  There are many different kinds of food sealers on the market at many different price ranges.  Amazon is having an awesome deal on one right now.  I love mine and it's totally paid for itself.

It's 40% off right now!  If you've been on the fence about trying one out, here's your chance.  You can get free shipping if you have Amazon Prime and if you don't have it, you can try out Amazon Prime for free for a month HERE.

Here you go!:

Pumpkin Bread

Seems like everywhere you go, there's something being offered with Pumpkin at this time of year!  I'm not quite ready for Pumpkin Pie but I was ready for something "pumpkin"!!!  Many thanks to my friend Miranda at work for suggesting that I make Pumpkin Bread.  It was my first attempt at Pumpkin Bread and.....WOW....it's soooooo good!  The recipe makes 3 loaves....I thought it was going to be too much but I was wrong...it's disappearing so fast!

You will need 3 loaf pans.  I decided to make mine in 2 loaf pans and 1 set of mini loaves (the set of mini loaf pans makes the same amount as one regular loaf pan).

Don't let the amount of ingredients scare you....this goes together very quickly (I was rather surprised how easy it was!).

Here is what you will need:

1 (15 ounce) can of Libby's Pumpkin Puree
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoos salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Here we go!!!......Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the loaf pans with butter and then add a little flour to the pans and shake to coat.  If you want it to be easier, you can use Reynold's Parchment Paper to line the bottoms of the pans and just grease the sides with butter (no flour needed).  The loaves will come out soooo much easier with the parchment paper!

In a large bowl (or a KitchenAid Stand Mixer if you have one...they are expensive but soooooo worth it and they last forever!), mix together pumpkin puree eggs, oil, water, and sugar until well blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, banking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, clovers, and ginger.

Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended (don't over mix).

Pour the batter into the prepared pans...

Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees (if you are making the mini loaves, those will be done in 25 minutes).  Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean...

Let the loaves cool for about 10 minutes in the pan and then run a butter knife around the edges to loosen.  Cool the loaves completely on wire rack (if you can wait that long without taste testing it!  ENJOY!!!!

Crockpot Chili

The weather is cooling off in most parts of the country....time for some chili!!!

Super easy....in the crockpot...put it together and forget about it for 4 hours!

Here is what you will need:

1 Pound of Ground Meat (I use ZAYCON -- it's 93% lean and it's fresh from the farm...)
1 can of crushed tomatoes (28 ounce can)
1 can of your favorite chili beans (14 - 15 ounce)
1 onion - chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder (you can add more after if you want to)
1 teaspoon sugar (sorry...forgot to put it in the picture!)

Ready?  Line a crockpot with Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner if you have them (if not...go get some for next time!!!  They are awesome...make clean up soooo easy!)

Brown the ground meat in a medium pot until browned (drain off fat...there won't be much if you are using Zaycon ground beef)

Add the meat and all of the other ingredients to the crockpot and stir well...

Put the lid on and cook for 4 hours on HIGH....

Serve with crackers or cornbread and enjoy!!!...