Meal Planning with Connie

Creamy Pasta Casserole I wouldn't exactly call it 'cooking,' but I can make noodles.  That means I can boil water, put the pasta in and wait until it's done.  ~Devon Werkheiser  There is a simple and yummy recipe, Spaghetti a la Philly, found inside the Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese box right now. The addition of cream cheese provides a nice little change to regular, old spaghetti. Here is a link to the recipe on their website: http://recipes.kraftrecipes.com/Spaghetti-A-La-Philly-recipe I tweaked it just a bit to suit our tastes. Here is my take on it: Creamy Pasta Casserole 1 bag (12-ounces) penne pasta 1 pound lean ground beef 1 jar (24-ounce) spaghetti sauce 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed 1 cup shredded cheese of choice (cheddar, mozzarella, Italian blend) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook pasta as directed on package. While pasta cooks, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet and stir in sa...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball Peanut butter [is] the pâté of childhood.” ~Florence Fabricant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball I made this for Sunday School, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. My kids loved it, proclaiming it – “awesome!” It is a soft and a bit messy to work with but worth it! Double the recipe and keep one in the freezer to have on hand when needed! 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar ¾ cup creamy or chunky peanut butter 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 1½ cups (9 ounces) milk chocolate morsels or milk chocolate and peanut butter morsels Graham cracker sticks and apple slices Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until well blended. Spoon onto a bowl lined with a large piece of plastic wrap; bring up all four corners and twist tightly, forming a ball shape. Freeze for a couple of hours or until firm enough to keep its shape. Place morsels in flat dish, such as a plate...