Weeknight Pizza Pasta!

Have you ever met someone who didn't like pizza?  Obviously, the answer is no.  Well, the same goes for this pizza pasta!  It's easy, fast, filling and very delicious!

This is a perfect weeknight dinner, and makes a lot for a family - all under $15! 

You'll need:
1 pound of ground hamburger meat
1 jar of pasta sauce (I love Emril's) 
1 package of egg noodles (I use the no yolk brand)
1 1/4 cup of mexican cheese
1 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese
1 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese
1 package of pepperoni (I always use turkey pepperoni)

Step by step:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.  Cook pasta according to package instructions
3.  Brown hamburger meat, using your favorite spices (I love Tony's Cajun Seasoning!)
4.  Once hamburger meat is done, mix the entire jar of pasta sauce and meat, layer the bottom of a casserole pan
5.  Put 1/4 cup of all three cheese over the meat sauce mixture
6.  Layer the cooked noodles over the meat sauce and cheese layers. 
7.  On top of the noodles, layer the rest of the cheese (1 cup of each mexican, mozzarella, and cheddar)
8.  Top with pepperoni

Optional:  If your family is pepperoni crazy like mine, add an additional layer of pepperoni on top of the first cheese layer.

Enjoy!
-DD

Oreo 7 Layer Bars!

While shuffling through my pantry, trying to find a treat to bake for a coworker's birthday I found a package of Oreo cookies.   I started thinking about something new and original to bake when it finally hit me: OREO Seven Layer Bars!

Why no one has taken an already awesome 7 layer bar, and make it more awesome with Oreo's is beyond me.  I was beside myself.  I'm pretty sure this is how Edison felt after making the commercialized light bulb.

Yes, these bars are that awesome.

Introducing: Oreo 7 layer bars! 

You'll need:
Package of Oreo cookies
1 stick of butter (melted)
14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup of white chocolate chips
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of chopped almonds (pecans or walnuts work too!)

Step-by-step:  
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray
3. Using a food processor, crush all the oreos to crumbs.
4. Combine the oreo crumbs with melted butter until all the crumbs are damp.
5. Press crumbs firmly into the bottom of prepared pan, creating the crust.
6.  Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the oreo crumbs.  Use a knife to spread evenly if needed.
7.  Begin layering!  Start with white chocolate chips, then layer the chocolate chips, following with the coconut, and last layer on the chopped nuts.  Gently press down on the layers (you can use a large fork).
8.  Bake for about 15 minutes.
9.  Loosen the bars from the sides of the pan while still warm.  Once completely cool, cut into bars.  Serve at room temp.
10.  Eat seconds.  Or Thirds. 

Enjoy!

-DD