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The Parenting Place - Respite Recipes

Respite Recipes

Pizza Casserole

• 1 jar of pizza sauce
• 1 box of pasta (shells, rotini, any pasta we have)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup chopped pepperoni
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1. Boil water. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook until pasta is soft. Drain.
2. In a large bowl combine pasta, pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni and Italian seasoning. Put mixed ingredients into cake pan or glass casserole dish.
3. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Spaghetti

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 box spaghetti noodles
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1. Brown hamburger in skillet. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add spaghetti sauce to meat and let simmer while pasta cooks. Add Italian seasoning.
3. Boil water. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook until pasta is soft. Drain.
4. Combine spaghetti sauce and pasta.

Chicken, Gravy and Rice

• 15-20 chicken tenders
• 2 cans of cream of chicken soup or 1 can cream of chicken and 1 can cream of celery or cream of mushroom
• ½ cup milk
• 4-6 cups rice
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Defrost chicken. Arrange side by side in cake pan or glass casserole dish.
2. Mix soups, milk and salt in pepper in bowl.
3. Pour over chicken.
4. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.
5. Combine water and rice (follow directions on Instant rice box).

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

• Bread
• American or cheddar cheese
• Tomato soup
• Milk

1. Combine equal parts tomato soup and milk. Cook on medium low until heated thoroughly. Stir often.
2. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place cheese in between two slices of buttered bread. Grill on large skillet until each side is golden brown.

Bean and Cheese Burritos

• Can of refried beans
• Shredded cheddar or Mexican style cheese
• Tortillas
• Optional – pound of hamburger meat and taco seasoning

1. Brown meat in skillet. Drain excess fat. Add 1/3 cup of water and taco seasoning. Simmer until sauce thickens.
2. Heat refried beans in saucepan on low heat until heated thoroughly.
3. Spread a large spoonful of refried beans onto tortilla. Sprinkle a layer of cheese over beans. If adding meat, add layer of meat over cheese.
4. Roll up like a burrito.

Mini Pizzas

• 2 boxes jiffy pizza crust mix
• Jar of pizza sauce
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• Package of pepperoni and any other desired toppings
• Italian seasoning

1. Combine pizza crust mix and water. (Read directions on box). Add Italian seasoning to mix.
2. Divide dough evenly in order to make multiple little pizza crusts.
3. Once pizza crusts are ready, spread a spoonful of pizza sauce on crust. Sprinkle cheese on top and add any toppings.
4. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden.

Tater Tot Casserole

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 10 oz. can low-sodium cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream (low fat is okay)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 32 oz. package frozen tater tots

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
2. Brown ground beef. Season with salt and pepper, while browning. Drain.
3. Spread ground beef in the prepared baking dish. Whisk together soup and sour cream. Spread over ground beef in an even layer.
4. Sprinkle one cup of cheddar cheese over the soup layer.
5. Top with tater tots.
6. Bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake another 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Chicken & Dumpling Soup

• 4 large chicken breasts
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 2 cups peas
• 1 cup celery
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 3 cans chicken broth
• Bisquick mix for 15-20 dumplings

1. Mix canned soups, vegetables and place into large pot with chicken. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until chicken is white all the way through.
2. Take chicken out and shred. Put chicken back into soup.
3. Meanwhile, mix Bisquick and form into ping pong sized balls.
4. Drop dumplings into soup, cover for 10 minutes and cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

Breakfast for dinner

• Pancake mix
• Eggs (optional)
• Breakfast sausage patties (turkey or pork)

1. Mix pancake mix with water (follow directions on package).
2. Heat skillet to medium-low heat and scoop ¼ cup pancake mix onto skillet. Cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.
3. Slice sausage patties and cook on medium heat until cooked through.
4. If we have eggs, scramble 1 egg for each child and cook on medium heat until fluffy.

Mashed Cauliflower

• 1 frozen package of cauliflower
• Butter
• Optional – milk or half and half
• Salt

1. Boil water. Add cauliflower to boiling water, cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until very soft.
2. Drain water.
3. Add 4 tablespoons butter and ¼ cup milk if desired.
4. Add a pinch of salt.
5. Mash until smooth. 

Additional Needs

• Butter
• Milk
• Cheese (shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar and sliced American)
• Frozen vegetables – peas, green beans, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots
• Fresh or canned fruit
• Cooking oil
• Graham crackers or any other kind of crackers
• Applesauce
• String cheese
• Canned soups
• Ketchup
• Maple syrup
• jelly