Cheesy Pasta, Veggies & Beef!

Pin It

I am really into simple recipes here at home. With three kids ages 3 and 15 months old I am always busy and I try to make cooking as simple as possible. This recipe is from "Betty Crocker Easy Weeknight Meals" September 2002 edition.  It is an all in one meal and very simple to make. It turned out pretty good. I did tweak the recipe a bit and the next time I make it I think I will do it differently.  Here is the recipe and the meal of the evening. 

1 lb. ground beef
1 bag (1lb) frozen pasta, broccoli, corn & carrots in seasoned sauce
1 can (10oz) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup water
Macaroni & cheese flavored cheese topping or cheese-flavored tiny fish shaped crackers (if desired)

Cook beef in 10 in. skillet until brown, drain.

Stir pasta mixture, soup and water into beef. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover & simmer 5 to 7 minutes stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with cheese topping. Makes 4 servings. 

Now I tweaked this recipe a bit. I used 2 bags of the pasta/veggie mix and I added extra carrots (canned/drained) as well as 4 oz of cream cheese. This gave us more veggies and the sauce was creamier with the added cream cheese. 

The recipe turned out good but the next time, I think I will create my own garlic sauce and use individual packages of frozen veggies as well as cook my own noodles for it. 

Pork Chops with Glazed Apple & Onion

Pin It

This is a quick and easy recipe that is great in the Autumn when apples are fresh and aplenty. I found this recipe in "Better Homes & Garden: Meals Made Easy With Grey Poupon Mustard".  It cooks up in one pan so no need to dirty too many dishes. 


Ingredients Needed:
4 pork lion chops, cut 3/4 inch thick
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 large apple, sliced
1/2 cup Grey Poupon Honey Mustard
1/4 cup apple juice


In large skillet, over meidum-high heat, brown pork chops on both sides in hot oil. Reduce heat to medium, cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until chops are done. Remove to serving platter & keep warm.


In same skillet, over medium-high heat cook onion in pan drippings for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in apple; cook for 5 minutes more or until onion and apple are tender. 


Stir in mustard and apple juice; heat through. *Spoon sauce over chops.


*In the end, I added the chops back to the skillet and just heated them up a bit and let them soak in the juices while warming.*


** Several different apples can be used. My favorites are Gala, HoneyCrisp, WineSap & Pink Lady.  I have also used Red Delicious & Yellow Delicious as well. That made a very pretty dish. **


This recipe is easy and tasty. I always increase the apples, onions, honey mustard & apple juice to make a double serving. The extra I use as a gravy base on the rice I serve with it. Its very good.  I served this with  long grain brown rice, green beans and corn on the cob.  Enjoy the pictures!

Onions cooking

Apples, apple juice & honey mustard added

Pork chops added back to the skillet. 

Extra onions & apple mixture over long grain brown rice.