Alright, alright, let’s talk about this… uh… pasta roni recipes, yeah, that’s what the young’uns call it. I ain’t no fancy chef, ya know? Just a plain ol’ woman who knows her way around the kitchen, kinda. So, don’t expect no fancy words or measurements. I go by feel, ya see? A pinch of this, a handful of that, that’s how it works.
First thing, this… uh… “American Goulash”, they call it. Sounds fancy, but it ain’t nothin’ but a big ol’ pot of stuff. You take some ground meat, whatever’s on sale, beef, pork, chicken, even turkey, it all works. Brown it up in a big pot, yeah, a big one, gotta have enough room. Then you throw in some onions, chopped up small, so the picky eaters don’t complain. Garlic too, if you like it. I always do, keeps the vampires away, or so they say.
Then comes the… uh… tomatoes. Canned ones are fine, I ain’t got time to be squishing fresh tomatoes all day. A big can, two maybe, depends on how much meat you got. And some water, gotta make it soupy, ya know? Then you spice it up. Salt, pepper, of course. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. I got this paprika stuff, makes it red, I like red. And some chili powder, if you want it a little kick. My grandson, he likes it spicy.
Now for the noodles. Any kind will do, really. Elbows, shells, whatever’s in the cupboard. Just throw ’em in the pot, let ’em cook till they’re soft. Don’t overcook ’em, though, nobody wants mushy noodles. And that’s pretty much it. American Goulash, easy peasy, feeds a whole army, or just a hungry family.
Okay, next up… what’s it called again? Ah, yes, “Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole.” Sounds real highfalutin, but it ain’t so bad. You need chicken, them little… uh… penne noodles, the tube-like ones. And cream, lots of cream. And cheese, gotta have cheese. Who doesn’t like cheese?
First, cook the chicken. I just boil it, easiest way, but you can bake it or fry it, whatever you want. Then shred it up, or chop it up small, makes it easier to eat. Cook the penne noodles too, till they’re just right, not too hard, not too soft.
- Now for the creamy part. You melt some butter in a pan, then stir in some flour, make a paste kinda thing. Then you pour in the cream, slow and steady, stir it all up till it gets thick. That’s called a sauce, I think.
- Add some cheese to the sauce, Parmesan cheese, they say it is, the powdery kind. And some other cheese too, whatever you got. Mozzarella is good, makes it stretchy.
- Mix the chicken and noodles and the cheese sauce all together in a big dish, a casserole dish, I guess they call it.
- Sprinkle some more cheese on top, cause why not? Then bake it in the oven till it’s bubbly and golden brown.
And that’s it! Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole. It’s rich, real rich, but tasty. Good for a special occasion, or just when you’re feeling fancy.
Now, they talk about “classic cheese” and “bold and spicy”, that’s just changing up the flavor, right? For the cheese one, just use a whole bunch of different cheeses, like that cheddar stuff, the yellow kind, and Monterey Jack, the one with holes. Melt it all together with the noodles, maybe some milk or cream to make it gooey. Kids love it.
For the “bold and spicy”, well, you just gotta add some kick. Red pepper flakes, jalapenos, if you’re brave. Even some hot sauce, a few drops at a time, don’t go overboard, or you’ll be breathing fire. You can add this spice to either the goulash or the chicken thing, or just make plain noodles and add it, it’s all up to you. It’s your food, make it how you like it!
And they say something about making it homemade… well, I don’t know what store-bought Pasta Roni is, never had it. But I figure if you got noodles and some flavor, you got a meal. Don’t need no fancy boxes or instructions. Just use what you got, and don’t be afraid to experiment. That’s the secret to good cooking, they say. Or maybe I just made that up. Either way, it works for me.
So there you have it. My take on these… uh… pasta roni recipes. Nothing fancy, just good, plain food. Now get in that kitchen and start cooking!
Tags: Pasta Roni, Recipes, Goulash, Casserole, Chicken Alfredo, Cheese, Spicy, Dinner, Easy, Quick
