Hamburger Casserole ❤️

Have you ever just wanted something different? Like when you are craving something to eat but you can't figure out what you want?  Well I have the answer!  It's this Hamburger Casserole! Trust me.  When you see the ingredients, you'll question me.  But TRUST ME!  It reminds me of a "glorified" Hamburger Helper...but much more tasty!  It also has very few ingredients so it's cheap, and also very quick to make!  Ready for the recipe?

Hamburger Casserole

1 box of pasta, cooked as directed and drained.  

1.5 lbs ground beef (browned and flavored with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.)

2 cans Tomato soup

1/2 can water 

4 Tbsp tomato paste (I used the tube from Trader Joe's) 

2 cups shredded cheese (I used half mozzarella and half cheddar)

1. Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9 x 13 pan. 

2. Add tomato soup, tomato paste, and water to ground beef.  

3. Add the pasta to baking dish.  Pour meat sauce over pasta and stir around until covered with sauce. Top with cheeses. 

4. Cover with foil and bake for 20 mins.  Serve with garlic bread! 

*Variations* 

This recipe can be altered any way you want!  Instead of tomato soup, use cream of mushroom or even french onion soup. Add in some green beans and top with crispy fried onions for a beef-green bean casserole vibe.  

This casserole is so good and with every bite comes that feeling of comfort you've been searching for.  My kids enjoyed it and asked to have it more often which is a win in my book!  I hope you try it and as always, leave me a comment if you do!  

Hope you have an amazing Tuesday evening! 

Dollar Dinner Challenge #2: Easy Chicken Pasta Casserole 💲

What if I told you that these items could help you create an easy $5 dinner?  As part of my Dollar Dinner Challenge, i used these items to do just that!  

I made the pasta, the peas, and the chicken all in one pot.  Then I transferred it to a greased baking dish and added some cheese. 

Then I mixed some bread crumbs, olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread the mixture on top. The I baked it in a 350° oven for 20 minutes to melt the cheese. 

My boys really loved this easy casserole and I even served it with a side salad. 

  I know that some Dollar Trees don't have a frozen foods section, but I did see some canned veggies that you could grab instead! This challenge was created to help inspire busy families to use their imaginations and not count out your local dollar store when you're in a pinch or on a strict budget!  I did serve my dish tonight with a side salad which I had all of the ingredients.  Ready for the recipe?! 

Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole 

*2pks Cheddar Broccoli Pasta Sides ($2)

*2 cans white chicken, drained

*1 bag frozen peas

*2 cups shredded cheddar cheese. 

*2 cups bread crumb mixture (mix 2 cups bread crumbs with 2Tbsp olive oil and add some spices...mix with a fork until crumbly) 

1) Make Pasta Sides as directed and add the peas and chicken when it starts to boil.   Stir occasionally.  Boil for 10 mins or until pasta is tender.  

2) Once done, pour into a greased casserole dish and top with cheese.  Then add the bread crumb mixture and bake @ 350° for 20 mins.  

3) Serve with a side salad!

Maryland Crab Soup 🦀

To some, the thought of making Maryland Crab Soup seams intimidating.  I used to think so too, but as a natural born amd raised Marylander I figured I'd better figure it out!  It took me a few times to perfect my own recipe but I realized all I really needed to make such a comforting bowl of goodness is crab meat and a special ingredient you can bet to find in every Marylander's kitchen, Old Bay!  Old Bay is the Holy Grail of seafood here on the East Coast.  We even use it on corn on the cob, sometimes in pasta salad, and even on grilled chicken!  If you haven't tried it, sometimes less is more until you're used to it! 

So are you ready for a simple recipe for the best crab soup? 

🦀 Maryland Crab Soup 🦀

*1 can of crab meat (I use claw meat when it's on sale so I don't have to pick through it)

*1 cup (3 or 4 good sized) potatoes, peeled and chopped

*1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, peas, green beans)

*2 cans beef broth

*1 large can crushed tomatoes

*Salt and pepper...to taste. 

*Old Bay...to taste.  

*Hot sauce (if you like heat)

1. In a large soup pot, add potatoes, frozen mixed veggies, crab meat, beef broth, and crushed tomatoes.  

2.  Add some salt, pepper,  Old Bay, and a few shakes of hot sauce (keep handy to add more to your individual bowl!) 

3. Bring to boil and continue to boil for 20 mins.  Lower heat and simmer for 45-60 mins.  

I serve mine with plain old biscuits and butter.  

 

Sometimes this soup is even better the second day so don't count out the leftovers!  Leave me a comment if you're tried this recipe and let me know if you liked it! 

Dollar Dinner Challenge #1 of 3!

Tonight was dinner #1 of my Dollar Dinner Challenge using all (except the can of chili and blueberries) Dollar Tree items!  This is just a fun little challenge I decided to do just for fun and also to help inspire fast and super affordable dinner ideas! 

If you're in a pinch and only have a few dollars to spend on dinner, don't rule out the dollar store!  Mine happens to have a small fridge/freezer section which helped make my challenge a little easier.  The only thing is the options are more for convince without hitting the drive-thru but not exactly the healthiest.  So that's why I added blueberries as a side for something healthy and fresh!

.

Here's what I used tonight with a total amount. .

1 pack hot dogs - $1

1 package of shredded cheese- $1

1 pack of hot dog rolls- $1

1 pack frozen french fries-$1

(I had the can of chili and blueberries on hand) 

So dinner literally cost me $4!  And it fed me and three hungry boys! .

So far this was an easy meal for the first challenge.  Challenge #2 coming on Saturday! 

Easy Egg Sandwich 🍳

You may be thinking...that's just another egg sandwich. Well, yes! It IS just another egg sandwich!  Anyone with any common sense can create their own breakfast sandwich. However, sometimes seeing different variations and how other people make theirs provides egg-cellent inspiration!  Am I right?  This is my favorite way to make it and I promise it's so simple that even you kids can help with the process!   Of course you can add sausage or bacon but for this one I kept it meat free. 

Easy Egg Sandwich 

(Makes 1 sandwich)

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 eggs

Salt & Pepper

2 slices of bread 

2 Tbs butter

1 or 2 slices of cheese

Mayo (optional)

Hot Sauce (optional)

1. Heat olive oil in small frying pan.  Break eggs into hot oil and add salt & pepper.  Flip eggs after two-three minutes. ( I made mine over-medium but you can cook however you like...even scrambled!) 

2. Mean while, toast bread.  Then spread butter and mayo on each toast.  Top one slice with cheese.  When eggs are done as you like, transfer them to top of the cheese.  Add hot sauce to top of eggs.  Now put your sandwich together and slice diagonally!

*Note~ I wish I had fresh spinach on hand and even tomato slices to add.  You could even add fresh basil, arugula, different cheese, sauteed mushrooms, anything!  

Let me know how you like to make your favorite breakfast sandwich! 

How To Make Sassy Ratatouille!

This dish is so good I need it to be my first official recipe post!  Even if you have picky eaters, the way this dish is presented makes it taste even better to kids!  Which means, they eat their veggies! .

How to make easy roasted veggies (I call it Sassy Ratatouille)💛💚💞

💛Easy Sassy Ratatouille 💛

1. Slice up some mushrooms, yellow squash, tomatoes, zucchini, onion (I usually use purple/red for color but yellow or white also work well!) And even sliced eggplant if you like. 

2. Arrange in circles round a baking dish.  Fill in the middle with sliced mushrooms. If you aren't a mushroom fan, fill the middle with extra slices of squash or even grape tomatoes! 

3. Pour a bottle of dressing over veggies. (I used raspberry vinaigrette.  You could also use balsamic dressing or even Italian) 

4. Bake uncovered in a 375° oven for about 30-45 mins or until done. 

5. Enjoy your Creation!  

Welcome to Let's Dish!!

Welcome to my BLOG!!  Did I really just create a blog?! Well, it is 2020...a fresh new year, a fresh new decade, and a fresh new month!  January.  My name is Erica.  I'm a born and raised Marylander (which gives me the right to create any kind of dish using Old Bay! 🦀) I have been implanted in Delaware for the last 5 years.  As long as I am still on the East Coast, I'm happy!  I love living a car drive away from the Chesepeak Bay, the beaches, outlet stores, and of course, I love not having to pay sales tax!  

I'll start by sharing a little about my family.  You will hear more about them as time goes on.   My hubby (Scott) and I have been married for 16 years.  While we have had our common ups and downs, we have finally found our groove and learned how to not sweat the small stuff. Choose your battles, am I right?  We are a great team!  We have three awesome boys!  (And that classifies me as a "boymom") Chase is 11, Cole is 7, and our sweet little Carson is 2.  We have two angel daughters who were needed more by God than they were by us.  Before anyone asks, we are happy as a family of five and won't be adding any more little feet to our crew, unless it's a furry pet! 

My turn!  I'll share more about me in the posts to come, so I'll make this short and sweet.  I am a lover of coffee, The Bachelor, snow, movies, board games, books, holidays and family get-togethers.  I am am old soul who loves vintage recipies, old fashioned clothes, antique decor, and black and white photos.  I swear I am a 90 year old lady trapped in a 30-something body. I love anything from the "good old days".  I was born in the 80s & raised in the 90s so I also love anything nostalgic from those decades!   

Now let me share about my blog!

🍓Why Let's Dish?~I wanted a space of my own to share my recipes!  I love creating & altering recipies to fit my family!  

🍓What will my blog feature?~ Aside from recipes, I will be sharing thoughts and content on : freezer cooking, pantry organization, small kitchen organization, veggie prepping for your freezer, dinner & movies pairings, cooking with kids, family fun ideas and bucket lists, menu planning, grocery tips, and SO MUCH MORE! 

🍓My other social media handles are:

Instagram: 

letsdish1981 (food/cooking)

sassy_classy_mama3 (my main page for everything mom life)

Pinterest:

ericaleigh19

I hope you'll stick around and keep up with Let's Dish!