{poppyseed chicken casserole}

This is one of my personal favorite dinners.  I got this recipe from my sister Lynda who got it from our friend Allison Holmes.  It makes great leftovers too.  

3 cups of cooked white rice
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded 
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 small container sour cream 
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds (I don't always add these)
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 sleeve Ritz cracker crumbs 
5 Tbsp. butter melted

Preheat oven to 375
Mix together in a small bowl; cream of chicken soup, sour cream, pepper and poppy seeds. Place aside.
In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish place rice as bottom layer. Next, arrange shredded chicken over rice until rice is completely covered. Pour sour cream mixture over chicken, until chicken is completely covered. Sprinkle Ritz crumbs over the entire casserole. Pour melted butter slowly over cracker crumbs so cracker crumbs are moistened. Bake for 25 minutes.

Thank allison for sharing this recipe its another family favorite.

{penne casserole}

This is by far the most requested recipe on our home.  I finally had to tell the kids I would make it once every other week.  It is very easy to double if you want to freeze one, take one to a friend, or your cooking for a large crowd.  We like to serve it with a green salad and french bread.

Ingredients

1lb ground beef
28 oz spaghetti sauce
8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1 stick of butter
1lb penne pasta
2 cups grated chedder cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Boil the noodles.  Mix cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until sooth.  I use my kitchen aid and mix it while the noodles are cooking.  Cut butter into slices and place it in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.  Brown ground beef add a little garlic salt to season.  When meat is browned add spaghetti sauce and simmer on low stirring occasionally.  Drain noodles when done and immediately add to baking dish. Stir noodles around to melt butter and make sure all the noodles are coated.  Spread cream cheese mixture over the noodles being careful to cover noodles completely.  Add meat sauce on top of the cream cheese layer and spread evenly.  Cook for 20 minutes then take out of the oven and add the grated cheese then put back into the oven for another 20 minutes.  Cook uncovered.  Enjoy!