Tag: summer cooking

Crock Pot Pizza

With a hot and steamy forecast and a house full of company, I needed some quick and tasty meal ideas that wouldn’t add any extra heat to the house.

My solution? My beloved crock pot.

(Seriously, I love my crock pots, especially in the summer months!)

Tonight’s menu includes an old family favorite, crock pot pizza. It’s an easy, no fuss layered noodle dish that is a favorite with both kids and adults.

Crock Pot Pizza

1 (12 oz.) package noodles (rotini or elbow macaroni works well) cooked and drained.
24 oz. of pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce
1 pound of ground meat (hamburger or sausage), browned and drained
2 cup mozzarella cheese
2 cup cheddar cheese
1 package pepperoni

Spray crock pot liner lightly with cooking spray. Then start layering beginning with one third of the noodles, then one third of the sauce, followed by a third of the meat, both cheeses and pepperoni.

Repeat the layers 2 more times.

Cook on high 30 minutes, then reduce heat to low and cook for another 1 hour or until the cheese is melted.

I made mine ahead in the early morning when it was still cool and put it in the refrigerator (I have a removable crock pot liner) until I need it in the late afternoon.

Then I will just put it on to heat and later I will serve it to my table full of hungry children. A no fuss, no muss pizza favorite without the heat of an oven. Yum!

Stir Fry for Summer

During the hot summer months when I don’t feel much like cooking, stir-fry is a great and thrifty way to use up left-overs.

I start with any cooked meat I have and add in left-over, frozen or fresh vegetables. Sometimes if there isn’t a lot of meat, I’ll also throw in some nuts like peanuts or cashews.

I’ll even throw in onions and peppers if I’m feeling brave!

Once all the vegetables are cooked and the meat is heated, I pour the sauce over and cook until it is thick.

Stir Fry Sauce:

Mix together 2 Tablespoons corn starch, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2/3 cup water, 1 tsp. ground ginger, 1 tsp. garlic, and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

If there isn’t enough sauce, I just make another batch and throw it on and cook a little longer!

It’s a delicious and light summer meal that my family loves. Well, not all of them. One child would rather have a root canal then eat anything  with lots of weird vegetables mixed up together. I always serve this with bread and a salad so when he has eaten his allotted portion he can fill up  with those!

Ahh, the joys of motherhood!