When you have a husband who doesn’t get home at the same time every night, you need some good slow cooker recipes in your back pocket.  This easy to make slow cooker recipe is a winner in my house. It also will leave you with leftovers to eat and enjoy.

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1 (12 oz) package of lasagna noodles
12 oz cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese

In a skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown.  Stir in the the tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, and oregano.  Cook until heated through.

In a bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Spoon a layer of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the slow cooker.  Add a double of layer of the uncooked lasagna noodles.  Break to fit the noodles into the slow cooker if needed.  Top the noodles with a portion of the cheese mixture.  Repeat the layering of sauce, noodles, and cheese until all the ingredients are used.

Cover and cook on low heat in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours.

I had pictures of this easy to make recipe, but I can’t find the cable to get them off the camera!  That being said, this recipes tastes as good as stroganoff with beef cubes.  You can make this in the slow cooker too!

2 lbs ground beef
2 onions chopped
1 garlic clove minced
1 can mushrooms drained
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 cups hot water
6 cubes beef bouillon
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 cups cold water
4 tbsp all purpose flour

Heat ground beef, onions, garlic, and mushrooms in a large skillet. Saute until the onions are golden brown. Season with salt and black pepper. Drain the grease off.

Stir in 2 cups of hot water, bouillon cubes, and tomato paste into meat mixture. Stir together 1 1/2 cups cold water and flour in a separate bowl. Stir flour mixture into skillet. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for one hour.

Serve over hot noodles.

This easy to make recipe is again from Prego. I made a few changes to it and made it my own. It also said to cook with a pizza pan. Unfortunately, pizza pan had holes in the bottom. I figured that wouldn’t work too well, so I talked to Elizabeth over at MomCooks, and she suggested a cookie sheet. That worked great. If you don’t have a pizza pan, definately use a cookie sheet instead. Like the last Prego recipe I did, this again will feed a family of 4 for under $20 (actually, I think the total for this recipe was $14.71). In this economy, we can all use recipes like this.

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion chopped
3 oz mushrooms, sliced
Vegetable cooking spray
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
3 1/2 cooked corkscrew pasta
1 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1 jar (26 oz) Prego Italian Traditional Sauce or Prego Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Italian Sauce.

Follow the directions on the pasta. While that is cooking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Heat oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook until the onions are tender. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Spray a 12 inch pizza pan (or small cookie sheet) with the cooking spray. Stir the egg, milk, pasta and 1/2 cup of cheese in a large bowl. Spread the pasta mixture in an even layer on the pizza pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

Spread the sauce on the pasta crust. Top with the onion mixture and then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 15 more minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Like most people, we are a very busy family here, so we often order out which can quickly add up.  However, with the economy taking the downturn it has, everyone is looking for ways to save money.  I recently read in my local newspaper that people are joining food co-ops and buy whole cows to save money.  Another great way to save money, is to quit ordering out.  Instead, you can save a lot of money by making homecooked meals.  This easy to make recipe is not only easy but pretty cheap to make also.  This recipe will make 4 servings, and the total cost of this meal is $13.04 (which include the serving suggestions).  Where else can you feed your family for that cheap?  I do have to thank Prego for this great recipe to try out.   My family loved it and I am sure yours will too!

1 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 jar Prego Chunky Garden Mushroom & Green Pepper Italian Sauce
8 oz rotini pasta, cooked and drained

Heat oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium high heat.  Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned stirring often.

Stir the sauce in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.  Serve chicken mixture with the pasta.

Serving suggestions:  Served with whole green beans and soft wheat dinner rolls.  Dessert should be mini-eclaires.

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 cup frozen corn
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and cubed (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups shredded colby monterey jack cheese
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crust

Heat over to 400 degrees F. Spray 15×10x1 inch pan (I used a cookie sheet) with cooking spray.

In a skillet, heat vegetable oil. Add in the onion and cook 2-3 minutes. Add the corn and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir in chicken and remove from heat. Stir in the sour cream and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Let this cool for about 5 minutes.

Unroll the pizza crust dough into the pan. Starting at the center, press dough into a 10 inch square. Spread about 2 tbsp of the enchilada sauce over the dough. Spoon the chicken mixture evenly over the sauce to within 2 inches of the edge. Then drizzle about 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce over the chicken mixture and sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese. Fold the edges of dough up over the filling and round the corners.

Bake about 20 - 25 minutes or until the crust is brown and filling is bubbly (I slightly overcooked mine — Even I mess up these easy to cook recipes sometimes! LOL) Let the tart stand for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining enchilada sauce.

To serve, top tart with chopped Roma tomatoes and shredded lettuce. Cut into wedges and serve with the warmed up enchilada sauce.