Easy Dinner Solution

I have some of my best ideas while in the shower! Unfortunately for you, I can’t bring a laptop in the shower with me and, therefore, a lot of my brilliant ideas for this blog never make it out of the bathroom. By the time I am able to sit down in front of the computer and start writing I’ve either lost my inspiration or find it difficult to stay focused and entertaining. So, I have come to the conclusion that not all of my entries are going to be pure gold (most of them will, but not all of them).

Tonight is one of those nights. I’m writing more out of sense of obligation, having gone more than a week without a new written entry, than out of a sense of true inspiration. Don’t get me wrong, the recipe I am sharing today is one of my favorite quick and easy meals! It isn’t the recipe that is lacking; it is my ability to be witty and charming. So going along with the idea of this meal, I’m going to make this entry short and sweet!

My mom shared this recipe with me a while back and I have used it countless times as a quick meal for those nights when I just don’t have the time to be original. Ha! I’m sensing a theme! I don’t know if there is a name to this recipe or not, maybe I should have asked my mom before writing about it. For tonight, I will call it “Yummy Pasta Bake”.

Goes great with a garden salad!

This “Yummy Pasta Bake” is so easy, it can hardly be called cooking and that is why I LOVE IT! All you need is a package of pasta (penne, macaroni, shells, whatever), a jar of your favorite pasta sauce (I stock up when it’s on sale, so I never use the same one), a half pound of ground beef or turkey (I’ve used both and they are both delicious), and as much shredded mozzarella cheese as you want! After cooking the pasta and the meat separately, throw everything but the cheese in a 9X11 casserole dish and mix it up real good. Top it with your mozzarella cheese and throw in your preheated oven (400°F) for about 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Viola! Done. My favorite part about this dish is that I always have leftovers! I like to freeze single-serving sized portions for an even easier meal on the run, for those days when we just don’t have time cook. Just throw it in the microwave and you have a delicious homemade meal in minutes!