My Girl, Paila: Baked Pasta Florentine

So I wasn't sure on how well we would like this dish.
But it was surpisenly really good. The only thing I thought it could use was more cheese. But that's me. It is deffently something I will have to make again. Samantha even ate it and she is my picky eater. She picked out the onion's though. But she still ate it. I just realized, I didnt add enough meat and to much pasta sauce, oh well it was still good.


1 (10oz) package frozen chopped spinach
1 tbsp plus 1/2 cup veg. oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 med. onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (15oz) jar pasta sauce with mushrooms
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
1 (8oz) package seashell macaroni, uncooked
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs, well beaten

Cook the spinach according to the package directions; drain, reserving the liquid and adding enough water to measure 1 cup; set aside.
In a large pot heat the 1 tbsp oil over meduim heat. Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic in the oil, stirring well to crumble the beef. Drain off the fat.
Stir in the spinach liquid, pasta sauce, tomato sauce. tomato paste, salt and pepper into the peat mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes, then cover and set aside.
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions; drain and return to the pot. Add the spinach, cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs and the 1/2 cup oil; stir gently to mix well. Spread the mixture evenly in a lighly greased 13x9 baking dish. Top with the meat sauce.
Bake at 350 degree's for 30 minutes.

My Girl, paula- Mini Mummies

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. I decided to make these on the day of Halloween. The only one who didn't eat them was Samantha, but that is only because she doesn't like hot dogs. They turned out so cute. Will defiantly be making again next year.

1 package hot dogs, cut in 2

1 package prepared pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degree's

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. unwrap pie dough and cut into 1/8" strips. wrap strips around the hot dog halves in a mummy like pattern. Pinch the ends together on the bottom side of the hot dogs. Place on the baking sheet and bake bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes

Crispy Skinned Chicken A'lorange

I got this recipe off of food network, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian. I was wanting to try a new chicken dish. This has to be the easiest dish ever. Both my husband and I loved it. The kids were in a picky mode. The only thing I did different was that I couldn't find bone-in, skin-on chicken breast so I used thighs with the bone and skin on.

Salt

Pepper

3 skin-on, bone-in chichen breast halves

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

4 tbsp honey

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Salt and pepper the chicken. Heat the oil in a large, oven safe, saute pan over medium-high heat and sear the chicken, skin side only, until brown and beginning to get crispy, about 5 minutes

Meanwhile, make the orange glaze. In a small saucepan, heat the orange juice concentrate, honey and salt and pepper, to taste, over medium heat, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Trun the chicken over and brush each piece with the glaze. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until and bake until the chicken is done, half way through baking brush on more glaze, about 15 minutes total.