Big fam recipe favorites

Right after "Are those your kids?", the most popular question is "What is dinner like at your house?" Well, besides the obvious answers like "loud" and "messy", it's really not that different than dinner at anyone's house. Spaghetti, soup, chili. You know--the basics. There's just more of it. Also important, I don't like to cook and neither does Scott. This could pose a serious problem with 12 hungry kids. Luckily, our older girls help out and I'm all about easy and economical.

With that in mind, I thought I would share some of our favorite recipes:

Conley Carbonara (modified for picky eaters)
1 package spaghetti noodles
1 package ham lunch meat
Parmesan cheese
Garlic
Butter
Salt & Pepper
Eggs (we use about 10)

Cook spaghetti noodles according to package. Heat butter in skillet and add garlic. Cut ham into small squares (we use kitchen scissors) and saute in butter/garlic. This is the place where you would add other tasty things if you didn't have picky eaters...like olives or mushrooms or zucchini.* Beat eggs in bowl. Drain spaghetti and add to skillet. It's easier to mix if you cut it. Mix with ham/garlic/butter. Pour eggs over noodles evenly. Let sit for a few minutes and then start mixing again. Once the egg is cooked add the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. That's it!

*Note: when I say picky eaters, it includes me! I hate mushrooms and olives.

Easy Enchiladas
Corn tortillas
Pinto beans
Diced green chilis
Enchilada sauce
Grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking pan. Drain pinto beans and add to mixing bowl. Add diced green chilis and grated cheese. Microwave corn tortillas so they are soft and fold easily. Spoon pinto bean mixture and roll, then place in pan. When pan is full, pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas. It's easier if you use a small ladle. Sprinkle with cheese on top. Cover with foil and cook for about 45 minutes. Serve with spanish rice and corn.


*You can also make cheese only, beef or chicken enchiladas.

Tuna Casserole
Solid white tuna
Curly pasta
Mayo
Lemon juice
Tomato
Zuchini
Cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking pan. Boil water and cook pasta to directions. Drain tuna. Dice tomatoes. Slice zuchini into small, thin slices. Drain pasta and add to mixing bowl. Add tuna and zuchini and mix slightly. Add mayo so it slightly coats pasta (use light mayo if you want). Add lemon juice, salt & pepper. Add cheddar cheese and mix. At the very end, add tomato and mix slightly, so you don't mush the tomatoes. Pour into baking pan and cook for one hour, until hot and bubbly.

Emma's Soup

Ingredients
2 cans kidney beans

Zucchini, sliced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 onion
1 bag pasta shells
Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Olive oil

Red chili flakes
Basil
Dill

Vegetable Stock or

Broth

Water

Fresh Parmesan

Directions
Saute onions, garlic and spices in the soup pot with some olive oil. Add vegetable stock or cans of vegetable broth. Add water. Bring to a boil. Add Kidney Beans and pasta. Add Zucchini. Cook until al dente. Top with fresh parmesan cheese. Serve with fresh rolls of your choice.

Some other things that we eat most weeks, but don't really require a recipe:

• Deluxe burrito bar--anything you like and just roll it up!
• Baked potato bar & salad--bacon bits, broccoli, the works. Fill the empty skins with salad and clean your plate. Delicious.
• Burgers on the grill and fresh fruit.

See, it's pretty much what any family might eat. Got some recipes to share? Post them here!