Shrimp Noodle Casserole

1 c uncooked macaroni 
1 egg 
1/4 c half and half
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese 
3/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese 
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt 
1/8 tsp pepper 
1/4 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped 
3/4 c fresh spinach, chopped 

Preheat oven to 350°.


Cook the macaroni according to package directions.  Combine the cream, egg, and butter in a small bowl.   

Drain the pasta.  Add the cream mixture, Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, garlic, salt and pepper to the pasta. Mix well.  Stir in the shrimp and spinach.  Pour into a greased baking dish.  Top with the remaining mozzarella.

Bake 20 minutes, or until shrimp is pink. 

Cookie Exchange

Are you doing a cookie exchange this year?  I am not, but my sister went to one last night.  I stopped by her house this morning, and she gave me a Nanaimo Bar that one of the other girls made.  OH MY.  What fantastic goodness!  There is a middle layer that is just delicious creaminess.  I am hoping she'll get the recipe so that I can pass it along!  Apparently there are a few different versions, but I so want the one I tried this morning!

What types of Christmas cookies do you make?

Menu Plan Monday

Tonight we're headed to Chick-fil-a for our weekly date.  The rest of this week we'll be having:

Steamed Shrimp
Hungry Jack Pots
Turkey Meatloaf
Breakfast for dinner
Manicotti
P.F. Changs!

Also this week, I hope to make Blueberry coffee cake, Cinnamon roll muffins, Cinnamon swirl bread, and Berry & Jam muffins.

I've got a cold, and have been feeling worse every day. Hope to return soon!

Livening up canned green beans

We eat a lot of canned green beans, because it's something that ALL of us like.  Take advantage where you can, right?  Dumping a can of green beans into a pan doesn't result in much flavor.  I grew up with my Mom and Grandma "livening up" the beans.  Of course it's not extremely healthy, but it's good nonetheless, and really it's not that bad when compared to, say, a piece of cake!

2 slices of bacon
2 cans green beans
2 tbsp butter

Place bacon in a saucepan over med-high heat until sizzling.  Add in green beans and butter.  Heat until boiling, then simmer for at least 10 minutes.

Grandma's Baked Chicken

My Grandma has made this for me for as long as I can remember.  It's one of my comfort foods.  Inexpensive, easy, and comforting.  Here are the ingredients, followed by the recipe, as written by my Grandma.

4 lbs. chicken wings
Salt
Pepper
Greek seasoning
Flour
3 tbsp butter

Wash and pat dry chicken.  Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper.  I also use Greek seasoning or Fried Chicken seasoning.  Sprinkle a little flour over chicken.  Cut up pieces of oleo and  put on each piece of chicken.  Cover dish and bake at 325 ° for 1-1/2 hours.  Take top off to brown, and then serve.

Menu Plan Monday

Up this week:

Baked ham served with scalloped potatoes, green beans, and fruit
Clam chowder
Slow cooker barbecue pork butt sandwiches, served with cole slaw and baked fries
Grandma's baked chicken served with potatoes, peas, and fruit
Leftover ham dinner
Leftover pork sandwiches
Breakfast for dinner