Uber Meaty Spaghetti Sauce and Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Serves 10 hungry people.

Preheat Oven to 450.

Ingredients for Uber Meaty Spaghetti Sauce:

1 lb Ground Beef

1 lb Italian Sausage

2 1/2 TBSP Worchestershire Sauce

1 Large Diced Onion

2 tsp Salt

1 TBSP Minced Garlic

1 TBSP Basil

1 28 oz Can Peeled Crushed Tomatoes

1 28 oz Can of Water (not pictured)

1 6 oz can Tomato Paste

1 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes

1 8 oz can Tomato Sauce

1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil (not pictured...it was being shy)

2 TBSP Basil

1 TBSP Garlic Powder

1 TBSP Oregano

1 TBSP Italian Seasoning

2 1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 cup Grape Jelly

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Ingredients for Cheesy Garlic Biscuits:

2 cups All Purpose Baking Mix

2/3 cup Milk (not pictured)

1 1/2 cups Shredded Cheese

1/2 cup Melted Butter

1 TBSP Garlic Powder

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Ok so let's start making our Uber Meaty Spaghetti Sauce. Using your hands squish up the Ground Beef with the Italian Sausage, kinda like you used to do with your Play-Dough when you were a kid. Feel the meat. Love the meat. If you're squeemish about touching meat (ah-hem...Alicia) then you can skip this step and just throw the Ground Beef and the Italian Sausage into a pot. Then toss in the:

2 1/2 TBSP Worchestershire Sauce

1 Large Diced Onion

2 tsp Salt

1 TBSP Minced Garlic

1 TBSP Basil

Stir it all up until its nice and brown.

Now throw in the:

1 28 oz Can Peeled Crushed Tomatoes

1 28 oz Can of Water

1 6 oz can Tomato Paste

1 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes

1 8 oz can Tomato Sauce

Look at all that Tomatoy Goodness.

Now shake in all those amazing seasonings...

1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 TBSP Basil

1 TBSP Garlic Powder

1 TBSP Oregano

1 TBSP Italian Seasoning

2 1/2 tsp Salt

Look at the whirlpool of spices in there!

Now we cannot forget this!

It's the secret ingredient...and for all of you doubting Thomases out there....STOP IT! Don't even think about not putting it in....just do it...you'll like it I promise!

1/2 cup of Grape Jelly goes into the pot!

Ahhhh...behold the Isle of Grape.

Now stick a lid on it and simmer at medium for at least an hour (the longer it simmers the yummier it will be!). Stir every 15 minutes or so.

Note: You can also stick this recipe in a Crockpot and just leave it all day. Just add another 1/2 28 oz can of water and set the Crockpot to High for 1 hour and then Low for the rest of the time. (I stick it in before church and its perfectly tasty when we eat it about 5 hrs later.)

Time for the Cheesy Garlic Biscuits!

Now I cannot claim this recipe. I fell in love with it at a dinner with the Jen Hawes clan and knew I had to have it. They taste just like those amazing Red Lobster biscuits and they're SO EASY! Just throw in:

2 cups All Purpose Baking Mix

2/3 cup milk

1 1/2 cups Shredded Cheese

Stir!

Plop on a cookie sheet!

And bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes!

Now when they're good and baked mix together your melted butter and garlic powder and brush the buttery goodness over the tops of the biscuits.

That's it!

Now let's check out our spaghetti! I just throw in some pasta (choose your favorite) and cook it for 15-20 minutes. We like ours a little al dente (which literally means "with teeth" in Latin and just means a bit chewy). And then scoop a WHOLE bunch of sauce on top.

The biscuits make the meal SO MUCH better!

Try them together for dinner TONIGHT!! DO IT!!

Not Yo Momma's Shepard's Pie

Serves 4 Man sized portions

Preheat oven to 450.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 cup frozen carrots
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/3 cup sour cream
2 cans of tomato sauce (or 1 can tomato sauce and 1 can tomato paste)
Garlic (minced and powdered)
Savory Herb and Garlic Lipton soup mix
Oregano
Basil
Season Salt
1 box of Au Gratin Potatoes (any flavor...you choose!)

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Ground Beef Mixture:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp Basil

2 tsp Oregano

2 tsp Season Salt

Throw it all together in a pan, brown, and drain.

Now while that's browning throw together your potatoes, carrots, peas, and sauce mixture.

Potato Mixture:

1 Box Au Gratin Potatoes

1/2 c. Frozen Carrots

1/2 c. Frozen Peas

2 1/2 c. Water

1/3 c. milk

Au Gratin Seasoning Packet

Savory Herb and Garlic Soup Mix Packet

Dump it all into a 9 inch glass baking dish. And stir to get any clumps out. (Note: the water and milk posted are not in addition to the amounts listed on the back of the Au Gratin potato box...use these amounts instead).

Tomato Sauce Mixture:

2 cans of tomato sauce (or 1 can of tomato sauce and 1 can of tomato paste--just depends on how thick you like your sauce)

3 TBSP oregano

2 TBSP basil

1 TBSP minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in a small glass bowl and stir.

Now while you were doing this your meat should be just about browned. After draining, layer the ground beef on top of the potato mixture.

I know it looks gross...but it tastes SO good.

Now spread tomato sauce mixture plus 1/3 cup of sour cream on top of browned beef.

Top with as much cheese as you desire! I probably used a 1/2 cup here. Now pop it in the oven. And stare at this adorable face while it cooks for 35-40 minutes.

At least that's what I did with my time.

After the dinger on your timer dings, take out your lovely Shepard's pie and bask in your own chefly grandness. Scoop into bowls and serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Ta DA!

Mexican Lasagna
Makes 4 Man Size Servings

Preheat Oven to 375

Ingredients:
Sauce
1 can tomato sauce (small can)
1 can of tomato paste
1/2 cup salsa
1 package of enchilada sauce mix
2 TBSP taco seasoning
1/2 cup water

Mix all together in a small bowl. Should be creamy and chunky due to the salsa. Go ahead and taste...you know you want to....its totally ok ;). Set aside.


Cheese Mixture
8 oz. pkg cream cheese
2 TBSP taco seasoning
2 tsp Garlic powder
2 tsp Red Pepper flakes (optional)

Microwave cream cheese for about a minute (I suggest you cover the bowl...otherwise popping and splattering will occur...oh and don't forget to UNWRAP it...had a roommate who forgot that important step once...). Mix together with other ingredients. Should be a thick spreadable texture.

Ground Beef Mixture
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 medium onion
3 chopped green onions
1TBSP cilantro
1 TBSP garlic powder (DO IT)
2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
2 TBSP taco seasoning
2 tsp ground pepper
2 tsp salt

Throw it all together in a frying pan and let the aroma knock you over...it smells like Mexican heaven. Cook until beef is cooked through. There is no need to drain the grease...the taco seasoning uses it as the mixing agent instead of water (never said this was good for you). Set aside.

Other Ingredients
8-10 Corn tortillas (don't use flour unless you like mushy grossness)
3 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 can of Black Olives (optional)

Now It's Time To Layer
In a round 9 inch glass dish spread about 2 TBSP of sauce mixture on bottom. Take a corn tortilla and using a butter knife spread cream cheese mixture on one side. Cover completely with a thin layer. Place in dish cheese side up (towards you) and top with 1/3 cup ground beef mixture, 3 TBSP cheddar cheese, olives, and more sauce. These measurements are approximate so use as much as you like...this is the fun part. Just make it the way YOU like it! Cheesier, Saucier, Meatier, Olive...ier (uhhh is that a word?). And Repeat! Fill until dish is full. I suggest the top layer be a couple corn tortillas (cut to fit the dish and cover the space completely) topped with the cream cheese mixture, sauce,and some shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes and then broil for 5 minutes or until cheddar cheese is nice and golden and bubbley.

Cut into 4 generous pieces and serve topped with a scoop of sour cream and a pinch of cilantro! Its delicious!