Pronto Pastitsio

This is for all of you pasta freaks out there!

6 oz uncooked elbow mac (I get whole wheat)
1 lb ground lamb or beef (I did beef)
1/2 cup chopped onion (go fresh on this)
1/4 tsp of salt
2 cups tomato and basil pasta sauce (Prego)
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1 10oz container of Alfredo sauce (fresh or canned)
1 1/2 cups of shredded Italian blend cheese
1 11x7 baking pan

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Cook mac and set it aside

3. While the pasta is going, cook meat, onion and salt in a large skillet. Drain and return meat to skillet. Stir in red pasta sauce and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 5 mins uncovered.

4. lightly grease your pan, layer 1/2 your mac, top it with red meat sauce. Take the rest of the mac and layer that on top, then top that with your Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle the top with a good layer of Italian blend cheese.

5. Bake for 30 mins, then remove and eat!

***If you like a lot of sauce, maybe double the amount you use. When you bake it, the mac absorbs a lot of the sauce**

Meatloaf in a Mug

This is a great recipe for those people out there that have picky eaters (i.e. ME) in their families. I hide a TON of veggies in this mixture and Sawyer never knows the difference.

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup of quick cooking oats
1 large egg
1 5 1/2oz can of V8 juice
1/4 cup of chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped carrots
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
1/4 cup of ketchup

1. Stir together first 8 ingredients in a big bowl (this is where I add more chopped carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, peas, etc.). Divide mixture into 4 separate portions, and shape into a ball. Place each ball into a coffee mug.

2. Line bottom of microwave w/ wax paper. Place mugs in a circle and cover w/ another sheet of waxed paper. It says to microwave at medium high for 11 mins, but I had to cook mine longer. Nuke those puppies!! Check for pink and be careful, they are HOT!

3. Smother w/ ketchup and serve!