Basil Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe

Cook Time:  30 minutes  Difficulty: Easy

Basil Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe

Move over boxed dinner mixes,  it's so much tastier to make this dish from scratch!

Be honest, how many of you have used boxed meal mixes (Hamburger Helper, etc.?) Ok I admit, I used the them when I first married my dear hubby 25 years ago (not that there's anything wrong with that:). Making things from scratch would have been a no-no for me back then, but thank goodness my dear hubby didn't marry me for my cooking;)  Boy, how things have changed!

Ok,  I'll admit another thing...I'm a cookbook nerd...remember those...cookbooks? Well, I used to (and still do) read cookbooks. The light dawned on me early in my marriage that I could make the same dishes as those boxed meals even tastier and healthier using ingredients I could pronounce and control.

This dish not only reminds me of my newlywed self, flash forward 25 years, it is my most requested dish from our kiddos.  It is quick and easy, and the perfect tasty meal for those busy nights.  

I usually prepare this dish with our Garlic Seasoning, but decided to "pizzazz things up" this time by using our Basil Pizzazz.  Besides mixing up this recipe with different spices, I've also been know to add those unsuspecting veggies to this dish while our kiddos were growing up.

Thank goodness my hubby stuck with me for 25 years because he would have missed out on the "Best Cheeseburger Macaroni yet" (his exact words). God willing, hopefully we will celebrate at least 25 more years, and who knows how good this dish will be then

Thanks for stopping by.  Comment below and let us know what you think. Here's how it's made.

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Olive oil

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground meat

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz or Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1 cup beef broth (For this recipe, we used 1 Tablespoon Minor's Beef Base in 1 cup water)

• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

• 2 Tablespoons milk to thin (more or less depending on desired consistency)

• 2 cups cooked pasta

• Chopped parsley (optional garnish)

Preparation

Saute onions in oil in a large skillet or dutch oven until onions are translucent.  Add ground meat and Basil Pizzazz and cook until meat is cooked through.  While the meat is cooking, cook the macaroni according to the package directions.

Add beef broth to the meat and stir.  Now for the best part, the cheese!  Add the cheese my friends (Here, in addition to the cheddar and monterary jack cheeses, I threw in the last few pieces of American cheese that I had in the refrigerator).   

Drain the cooked noodles and add to the cheesy beef mixture and stir.  At this point, you may want to add the milk to the thin out the sauce.  

Serve this sinfully cheesy Cheeseburger Macaroni with our Strawberry Spinach Salad and our Savory Wedge Bread (also made with Basil Pizzazz) for a complete meal.  Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!  A definite family favorite!

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Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

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Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Cook Time:  20 minutes  Difficulty:  Easy

This meatball recipe is a fun spin on an old classic, Chicken Parmesan, a chicken dish consisting of chicken, topped with mozzarella cheese and smothered in a tangy marinara sauce. I mean, how can you top Chicken Parmesan, unless it's Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, made with Basil Pizzazz, our newest and exciting seasoning blend?  This seasoning blend is AMAZING!!

I ran across a recipe for stuffed chicken parmesan meatballs and noticed that the spices in the original recipe were similar to the ingredients in our NEW Basil Pizzazz, so to me this was a no-brainer!  My quest was set...to make flavorful chicken parmesan meatballs from scratch, stuff them with creamy mozzarella cheese, (a surprise my family would no doubt enjoy), and finish them off in a tangy spaghetti sauce.

Some of our best burgers or ground meat dishes have come from freshly ground meat straight from our kitchen.  A few years ago, our friends shared their secret to their amazing burgers...freshly ground meat, using the Kitchenaid meat grinder attachment. Since then, it has been one of my favorite kitchen gadgets!  I like that I get to grind my own meat and control what ingredients go into our recipes, including meatballs.  

When I ran across this recipe for stuffed chicken parmesan meatballs (adapted from "Host the Toast", the blog from Kitchen Kapers, one of my favorite local stores here in PA), I knew I had to make this recipe from scratch using my meat grinder and our newest seasoning blend, Basil Pizzazz, the PERFECT addition to this dish!  However, I didn't stop there, I went "scratch crazy" and made spaghetti sauce from scratch using you guessed it, Basil Pizzazz. 

One word, Amazing!  The flavor from the meatballs (and sauce) seasoned with Basil Pizzazz was outstanding and just as I had expected, my family was delighted at the gooey mozzarella inside the meatballs. They said, "Mom, this recipe is a keeper"...Sigh:) So, next time you're looking to tantalize your family's tastebuds and surprise them at the same time, you need to make this recipe!

Ingredients  

• 1 lb. ground chicken (I used chicken breasts and ground with my mixer attachment)

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp.) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning

• 1/3 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1 inch chunks (you could use mini mozzarella balls)

• Cooking spray

• Your favorite Spaghetti or Marinara Sauce (Mine is below)

• Cooking spray

• Fresh basil (garnish)

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients  

• 2 cans (28 oz.) tomato sauce

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (feel free to use chopped fresh tomatoes)

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz (or more to taste)

• 1 bay leaf

• The rind of Parmesan Cheese (optional)

• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp)

Mix all ingredients together in a pan and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Remove bay leaf, parmesan rind, and serve with your favorite meatballs and pasta.

Preparation
In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, Basil Pizzazz, eggs, Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning, bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. 

Shape the meat into balls, about the size of a golf ball and press a chunk of mozzarella cheese into the middle of the meatball. Close the meatball, completely covering the cheese, (otherwise the cheese may ooze out) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Spray the meatballs with cooking spray.

While meatballs are cooking, heat up marinara/spaghetti sauce in a medium pan.  Bake meatballs at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until meatballs are golden brown. Once parmesan balls are cooked, pour sauce over meatballs and spaghetti.  Serve with a salad and our Savory Wedge Bread for a complete meal.  Buon Appetito!

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Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Pork Fried Rice Recipe

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Pork Fried Rice Recipe

Cook Time:  15 minutes  Difficulty: Easy

I love turning today's leftovers into tomorrow's masterpiece, and fried rice is the perfect masquerade for leftover meat and veggies. Score one for Mom!

We used leftover pork In this recipe, but chicken or seafood could easily be substituted, or no meat at all.  You may want to make a double batch because it will disappear right before your eyes!  

I couldn't believe the first time I made this easy recipe...my family had second...and third helpings. I guess that says something about my cooking...either that or it could be we starve our children to force them to eat leftovers;)  Just kidding:)

Ingredients (marinade)

• 1 red pepper- coarsely chopped
• 1 yellow pepper- coarsely chopped
• 1 medium red onion- coarsely chopped
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup Teriyaki sauce
• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (tsp.) ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (tsp.) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning
• 1 Tablespoons (Tbsp)  white balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard or Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Sriracha sauce

Fried Rice Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp)  olive oil
• Rotisserie chicken or leftover meat, chopped (We used leftover pork for this recipe)
• 5 cups cooked white rice (you can substitute brown rice as I often do unbenounced to my family;)
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) chili powder
• 1 10 oz. pkg. frozen sweet peas
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten

Preparation

Combine the peppers and chopped onions and the rest of the marinade ingredients in a large zip-top bag and marinade for at least 30 minutes.  Then remove the peppers and onions with a slotted spoon, reserving the marinade for later.

In the meantime, cook the rice according to directions on the package.

After the peppers and onions have marinated, cook the pepper and onions with 3 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet until veggies are slightly tender (depending on the size of the skillet, you may have to make in batches and then mix in a large bowl).

Add rice, peas, chili powder and 1/2 of marinade.  Cook for two minutes on medium stirring constantly. Add eggs and rest of marinade.  Continue to cook and stir, until eggs are cooked.  Hint: If you have a large enough skillet or griddle, move the rice and veggies into a ring with the middle left for the eggs, then mix when egg is cooked.  Here you have it, quick and easy fried rice!  Enjoy:)

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Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe

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Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Cooking Time:  50 Minutes  Difficulty: Easy

I'm always looking for easy delicious chicken recipes to add to my chicken collection. This recipe is not only the perfect comfort meal, it can be made ahead.  Make a double batch, one for now and freeze another one for later. 

The original recipe called for cans of cream of mushroom soup.  I prefer to make cream of mushroom soup from scratch, as it makes everything that much more delectable and is ten times better than the store-bought version.  It also can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

Serve this casserole with our Homemade Applesauce Recipe and our Savory Wedge Bread Recipe for a complete meal your family or guests will enjoy!

Ingredients

• 6 whole chicken breasts, cooked and chopped (you can substitute store-bought rotisserie chicken to cut down on cook time)
• 2 packages (10 oz. each) frozen chopped broccoli, cooked for 5 minutes
• 3/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning
• Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup (you could use use 2 cans of store-bought Cream of Mushroom Soup...but why?  Homemade is much better)
• 3/4 cup sharp shredded cheese
• 1/4 lb (1 stick) butter
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning
• 6 oz. panko bread crumbs (we used Gluten Free Panko crumbs)

Preparation

Cut cooked chicken into bite size pieces and mix with mayonnaise in a large bowl. Add broccoli, soup, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, and Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning Blend, and cheese.  Mix together and spread the mixture into a 9x13 casserole dish.  

In a small bowl, melt butter in the microwave and stir in bread crumbs.  Place bread crumbs over the casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.  Enjoy!

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