During this slower time, first from the pandemic and now from summer break, my girls and I have the wonderful chance to go over to our NannaLee’s once a week. My youngest daughter got to go to Nanna’s for “coffee” each morning when Grammie was watching her before she started school. We have all missed her having this opportunity. As a teacher I encounter students who do not have the luxury and blessing of close grandparents. I have also seen repeatedly through the use of volunteers (including my own grandmother), how much children benefit from time spent with grand and great-grandparents. They provide unconditional love, wisdom, a slower pace and a chance for children to be the center of attention and learn new boundaries, respect and wisdom! So, we are excited to be able to take advantage of this time together. Starting our second week, Nanna and I started playing a new “game”. It is that she picks and thaws the meat for lunch and then it is my job to complete the meal for our lunch using whatever I find and want to use out of her well stocked pantry. She has said that it is a real treat for her to have us over because she gets a “real” meal. Although it has been some years since Papa went to Heaven, Nanna still has not mastered cooking for one.

This is the recipe I came up with the first day we did this. She thawed about a pound and a half of ground beef and my youngest said she loves trying new noodles. So, I wanted to include noodles in my creation. I love this recipe because it is easy and because it received rave reviews from my daughters. It is even apparently world famous now, at least in the girls’ world! We were over at my brother’s house later in the week I made this recipe and he was visiting with my oldest about her day. She told him that she had Momma’s Famous Noodles for lunch (the girls had finished the leftovers that day). I’m always happy when a recipe is so well received and is full of good food for my family! Without further ado, here is the recipe.

Beef Alfredo Casserole Recipe:

1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef

1 can Sliced Mushrooms or Mushroom Pieces

1 jar Alfredo Sauce ( I used this brand)

1/2 box (about 2 1/2-3 cups dry) Radiatori Noodles (or any other similar pasta)

1/2 cup Raw Spinach

1/2 cup Raw Kale

Beef Alfredo Casserole Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium high heat. While that is cooking, start cooking the noodles in salted water according to package directions. Once the ground beef is close to being done, add drained mushrooms and sauté with the meat until the meat is completely cooked. This helps give some extra flavor to the mushrooms. Once the meat is done, drain the meat and mushrooms IF there is a lot of fat. Otherwise, just reduce heat to medium low, add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the jar of Alfredo sauce. Once the meat and sauce are combined turn off heat and stir in the roughly chopped spinach and kale. Adding the veggies after turning off the heat allows them enough heat to wilt and mix in without losing all of their integrity and flavor. After the noodles have finished cooking, use a slotted spoon to drain off the water as you scoop out the noodles into a casserole dish. If your skillet is large enough, you can just add the pasta to the meat sauce and stir to combine in the skillet to save on dishes. Once you have all of the noodles in the casserole dish add the meat sauce. Stir to combine and serve immediately with your choice of sides like garlic bread and salad, or artisan bread and green beans.

I hope you enjoy this hearty and flavorful meal as much as my family did. If you make it please share and tell me how it went. If you make any alterations you would recommend, please share them for myself and other readers to expand our recipe options!