My recipe for Shepard pie

1 pkg ground beef / turkey burger

1 med onion , chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream corn

Red potatoes, cooked & mashed 

Garlic , minced 

Shredded cheese

Cook beef in a skillet until browned . Add mushroom soup, onion & garlic .

Place cooked beef on the bottom of a baking dish . Layer corn & potatoes . Sprinkle with cheese . Bake at 350 for 20 minutes . 

Aunt Liz's hearty manicotti

Water 

1 lb Italian sweet sausage

1 lb ground beef

1 med onion , chopped 

2 16oz cans tomato purée

1 6 oz can tomato paste 

1 tsp sugar 

1/2 tsp pepper 

Basil

Salt 

18 oz pkg of manicotti shells

4 c ricotta 

18 oz pkg mozzarella cheese , diced 

2 tbs chopped parsley 

Grated Parmesan 

In covered 5- qt Dutch oven over medium heat , add 1/4 c water and cook sausage links 5 minutes . Uncover ; brown well , drain . 

Spoon fat from Dutch oven ; over medium heat brown beef and onion . Stir in tomato purée , paste , sugar & pepper . Add basil , salt , and 1 c water . Simmer 30 minutes .

Cut sausage into bite size pieces and add to beef mixture . Stir occansionally. Meanwhile cook manicotti as directed on pkg . Drain water . Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl , combine ricotta, mozzarella , parsley , 3/4 tsp basil . Spoon into shells .

Then spoon half of meat sauce into 13x9 basking dish . Place half of shells over sauce in one layer . Spoon remaining sauce ( except 3/4 c ) over shells ; top with remaining shells in one layer . Spoon rest of meat sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese . 

Bake until bubbly . 30 minutes .

After school snacks for hungry kids .

Easy ham & cheese calzones

1 can refrigerated pizza crust

Deli sliced ham

1 c shredded cheese ( you choose)

1/4 c ranch dressing 

1 tomato , sliced thin 

Heat oven to 400. Unroll pizza dough on lightly floured surface . Cut into rectangles .

Top dough with ham , cheese & ranch dressing . Put tomato ontop . Fold rectangles in half , seal edges with a fork . Put on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking oil . 

Bake 16-18 minutes or until brown .

Note : you can prepare calzones ahead of time ( up to 8 hours in advance ). 

Easy chicken bake to please a crowd .

1 pkg stove top stuffing 

11/2 lb boneless chicken breast , cooked & cubed

1 can cream of chicken soup 

1/3 c sour cream

1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables , thawed

Heat oven to 400. Prepare stuffing as directed on pkg . Mix chicken , soup, sour cream and veggies in a medium bowl . Then put mixture in a casserole dish ; top with stuffing .

Bake 30 minutes . 

Get the whole family out this fall . Heres a some ideas on a budget

In Vermont we like fall weather . Bonfires , leaves , Apple picking , corn mazes , pumpkin carving , etc . 

A mile from my work is an Apple orchard . I pick apples everyear there . Last year I made apple pies , apple sauce and apple bread pudding . It's fun and the kids can fill a bag up with different apples they've picked .

The next town over from where I live is a corn maze . Take the family there and spend most of the day finding your way to the end . 

In Waterbury, Vt is Cider Hollow . Sip a cup of cider for free . Enjoy cider donuts for $2.50 1/2 dozen . Have a tour of the mill . And find VT made items at the gift shop .

It's the season for brew fests. September 27 , 2014 at the Trapp family lodge in Stowe , Vt  is their annual brew fest . There is food as well . Visit the website for more info .

Get your fold up chairs out , sweaters & ready to make s'mores by a bonfire . My family has a get together every year . We carve pumpkins , bring food & sit by the fire afterward . Who doesn't like that ? 

For more VT attractions or budget friendly ideas visit the Vt state tourist site . 

Easy fall dinner .

1 turkey oven bag 

Chicken breasts

Turnip , chopped & peeled 

Brussel sprouts 

Red potatoes, chopped 

1 med. onion sliced 

1 can chicken broth w/ herbs + 1 c water . Or until everything is covered .

Throw all ingredients in the oven bag . Place onto a baking dish . Bake at 350 for 35-40 or until all cooked . 

Weekend freebies