Cooking Up Cottage

Tag: Main Dishes

  • Green Pepper and Beef Manicotti

     This manicotti is perfect for feeding a crowd or packing leftovers for work the next day. It is an easy manicotti recipe that swaps out ricotta cheese with cottage cheese and then includes everything yummy like green peppers, ground beef, and mozzarella cheese which is baked in a layer of marinara sauce.  How could you go wrong with this flavorful combination?  My daughter was delighted by the fact that this recipe uses manicotti noodles, because it was a nice change from the usual lasagna or spaghetti noodle we have here many nights.  So try this recipe tonight and surprise your family with a new flavor combination. They won’t be disappointed.

    Start by preheating the oven at 350 degrees. Then cook your manicotti pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside to cool. Then brown the 1 pound ground beef with the chopped green pepper, and chopped onion in a skillet.  After browning the ingredients, drain off the fat and set the meat aside to cool.

     Combine 1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, 2 egg whites, and a 1/2 teaspoon of ground oregano.  Then mix together well.
    Now add in the beef mixture.

    Use this mixture to stuff the manicotti. Then add enough spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom of the 9×13 dish and top the sauce with the stuffed noodles in rows. 

    Cover with remaining spaghetti sauce, and top it with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

    Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

    Now serve and enjoy!

    Green Pepper and Beef Manicotti

    • 8 ounce package manicotti
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 chopped green pepper
    • 1 small chopped onion
    • 1 1/2 cups Cottage Cheese
    • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
    • 1 24 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce

    Start by preheating the oven at 350 degrees. Then cook your manicotti pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside to cool. Then brown the 1 pound ground beef with the chopped green pepper, and chopped onion in a skillet.  After browning the ingredients, drain off the fat and set the meat aside to cool.

     Combine 1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, 2 egg whites, and a 1/2 teaspoon of ground oregano.  Then mix together well.

    Now add in the beef mixture.

    Use this mixture to stuff the manicotti. Then add enough spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom of the 9×13 dish and top the sauce with the stuffed noodles in rows.

    Cover with remaining spaghetti sauce, and top it with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

    Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

     

  • Chicken Caesar Wrap


    This wrap is an amazing combination of savory chicken and flavorful Caesar dressing that will make your meal planning a breeze.

    Have you tried all of the wrap sandwiches at restaurants lately?  It seems like they are popping up on menus all over town. Well, I have a favorite and I wanted to recreate it here on the blog so I can have it for a simple lunch or light supper anytime.  This recipe is so easy to make because it uses rotisserie chicken, which is exactly what I need on those busy school nights. So let’s get out the ingredients and develop our wrapping skills for this wonderful recipe.

    You will need 3 cups of shredded cooked rotisserie chicken, 2 cups of shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, 8 tablespoons of Caesar dressing, 4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, 1 sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, and 4 large Mission garden spinach and herb tortilla wraps.

    Start by shredding three cups of chicken.
     Warm the tortillas according to the package directions.

    Now add 3/4 of a cup of shredded chicken, 1/2 cup of cheese, 2 tablespoons of Caesar dressing, 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese, 2 slices of tomato, and shredded lettuce to each of the four wraps.Now fold the sides in on the tortilla and slice it in half. Now you’re ready to enjoy this delicious wrap.

    [yumprint-recipe id=’79’]

  • Italian Beef Sandwiches

    This sandwich is downright amazing!  It’s filled with meat, provolone cheese, onions, and green peppers.  When you put these wonderful ingredients on garlic bread, you have one delicious supper.  I made this recipe the other night when I was tired of my usual roast beef in the crockpot dinner seasoned with whatever spice I pull off of my spice rack and I was delighted by all of the flavors. So if you are looking for a supper that is a change from the ordinary, then try this wonderful sandwich.
    First place a 4 pound beef roast in your slow cooker. Next, mix together 1 (0.7 oz.) package of Italian dry salad dressing mix, 1/2 cup of water, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in a bowl.

    Pour the spices over the roast beef.Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or high for 5 to 6 hours. Now you can shred the meat with a fork so it is ready to use on your sandwich.  You will have extra meat for leftovers.

    When the meat is done cooking, you can get out the 16 ounce frozen garlic bread and cook it according to the package directions.

    While the bread is cooking, chop up 1 onion and 1 green pepper in strips and sauce them in 1 tablespoon of olive oil a pan until tender.

    Then when the bread is done you can assemble the sandwich. Take 12 slices of provolone cheese and layer 6 on each side of bread.  Then top one side with beef and then add green peppers and onions. Now bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.  Now you are ready to enjoy these wonderful Italian Beef Sandwiches.

    [yumprint-recipe id=’76’]

  • Taco Pasta Casserole

    This is an easy crowd-pleasing casserole that the whole family will love!  Everyone will be begging for seconds.  This recipe is a fun spin on traditional taco dishes. This casserole has corn, meat, and it’s all baked to cheesy perfection.  So if you are ready to spice up your next taco night then let’s get started.

    Start by cooking 8 ounces of farfalle (bow-tie) pasta according to the package directions.Meanwhile brown the 2 pounds of ground beef and 1 small chopped onion in a pan until it is no longer pink.

    Then in a bowl mix 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder,1/4 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and add 1/2 cup of water to mix up the spices.  Then add the spice and water mixture to the hamburger, and simmer it for 2 minutes.
    Now add 1 (15.25 oz.) drained can of whole kernel corn, 1 (10 oz.) can of Rotel mild diced tomatoes and green chilies, 1 cup of salsa, and the pasta.
    Pour the mixture in a 9×13 inch rectangular baking dish and top with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake it covered in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until heated through.
    Now you can serve this casserole with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, tortilla chips, and sour cream.

     

    [yumprint-recipe id=’75’]