We all know that as the school year approaches life gets more hectic. The morning is hectic as you are trying to get everyone fed and out the door with all of their belongings, and the evening is just as hectic as we try to get everyone to any practices and rehearsals and still sit down for dinner. At our house we try to make sit down family dinner a priority. It is a once a day connection that we cherish. When dinner is a breeze to make it makes family time even more fun! This meal is one that is SO easy to prepare. You can prepare it when you get home from work and it will take you about 30 minutes. Or you can prepare it ahead of time and just bake it when you get home.
EASY BAKED PASTA
Ingredients
2 cups noodles, we used shells but any short pasta would work
1 15oz jar marinara sauce, we love the Trader Joe’s brand
1/2 lb ground sausage, we used spicy for the extra kick but regular would work
8 oz shredded mozzarella
Directions
Boil water and cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile brown the sausage. When the sausage is browned, drain and mix with marinara sauce. Drain noodles. Mix into the pan with the sauce and meat. In a 9 inch square pan, layer 1/2 the noodle mixture, then 1/2 the cheese, then rest of the noodles and the rest of the cheese. If it is dinner time bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and bubbly. If you are preparing ahead of time, cover and refrigerate for up to one day. Then uncover and bake at 350 degrees until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. ENJOY!
This post is linked to these fabulous parties: Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Recipe Sharing Mondays, Nap Time Creations’ Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Talent Show
This looks scrumptious! I usually use hamburger in our spaghetti or on pizza – so I’ll definitely be trying this! Yum!
Hi! I’m getting a late start on Strut Your Stuff today – I hope you are having a great holiday! I’d love to have you visit Family LIteracy if your family loves to read. We just started up our Classics 4 Kids Book Event and would love to have you join in the giveaway if you’d like!
http://familyliteracyandyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/classics-4-kids-week-1-princess-and.html
Tina “The Book Lady”
(PS: I’m following you))
sounds delicious and you are so right we need a quick meal now that school is back come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
This is one of our favorite pasta dishes. I like to add pepperoni to it too. Delicious. Come visit. We have some wonderful apple recipes this week.
This look yummy. I love adding sausage instead of hamburger to casseroles to change things up a little.
Yum! I think shells taste better. There probably isn’t a difference, but I swear they do 🙂
Stopping by from Totally Tasty Tuesday
this sounds and looks delicious!
Thanks so much for linking up to Tuesday Talent Show! I would love to have you stop by and link up again with more great projects!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/