An Easy Dinner for Busy Nights

So a few days ago, I noticed a post on the blog, Skip to My Lou about easy dinners.  I decided tonight to share one of my easy dinners on her blog and with anyone else here that would like to see it.  We call it All American Hotdish, and I'm sure my parents are in shock right now.  This was one of my mom's go to recipes when we were growing up and by the time I was in high school I was a bit tired of it and proclaimed it my least favorite dinner.  But after a few years of it's absence, I found I like it again.  I guess absence can make the heart grow fonder.

Anyway, this is a quick, nutritious meal that makes excellent leftovers.

First you take 1 pound of ground meat--moose, venison, you know whatever you have handy.  I suppose beef would work as well. :)  Chop up 1/2 or even a whole onion.  (Unless you're my mom, then you mince up about 1/4 of an onion really finely so my dad doesn't notice it.)  Cook these both in a large skillet until the meat is browned.  If you need, drain any excess fat.

Then add one 8 oz can of tomato sauce and take a picture.  Ha, this is just where I decided to take pictures for the blog.

 

Add the following ingredients:

one 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, 1- 1 1/2 tomato cans of water, about 1 cup of frozen corn, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and 7 oz or about 2 cups of uncooked egg noodles or macaroni noodles.

And this is what it looks like:

 

Let this come to a boil and then simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are done and the water has evaporated to your liking.  The official recipe that I use as a guide for my measurements says to simmer it for 20 minutes, but it often doesn't need that long.

While your dish is simmering, shred some cheese and set the table.  Or better yet, get your kids to set the table! 

 

To serve, scoop onto plates and sprinkle with cheese.  Mmmm, look at the melty goodness!  

I made the whole meal real easy tonight too.  I warmed up a can of green beans and served cottage cheese with a can of mandarin oranges.  

And there you have it.  My family's version of a quick, homemade dinner.  Give it a try sometime and let us know what you think.  Hope you enjoy it.