Easy Spaghetti Sauce

I just made this up last night and I loved it. So did Jeff and he doesn't even really like spaghetti.

1 onion
1 can diced tomatoes (I used the Italian Seasoning kind)
1 can tomato sauce
Ground beef
herbs (I used oregano, basil, and parsley, use what you like)
Zesty Italian Dressing
Cream Cheese


Dice up the onion and saute it with about a 1/4 cup of zesty Italian dressing until the onions are crispy a bit still but starting to get tender. I think this is partly why it was so delicious. Just the smell of this will make your mouth water.

Then toss in the ground beef (as much as you want really, I don't ever pay attention to how much I toss in because I buy in bulk and freeze in smaller portions).

When the hamburger is browned, toss in the tomato sauce and canned tomatoes (I always puree my tomatoes because my husband doesn't like the chunks but either way works). Then add salt, pepper, and the herbs you like to your own taste. Let this simmer for a bit to let the flavors mingle. I let it simmer while I waited for my pasta water to boil and the noodles to cook.

Now, just add about 1/3 of a cube of cream cheese to the sauce right before you serve it. This makes the sauce creamy and delicious. You can even use the less fat cream cheese but I don't believe in that stuff :)

Skillet Lasagna

1 jar marinara sauce
3 cups water
8 oz lasagna noodles
1 lb ground beef or sausage
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 oz Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp chopped parsley, divided
1 cup ricotta cheese(I actually just use cottage cheese because i usually have that on hand)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp pepper

1. Combine sauce and water in skillet. Cover; bring to a boil.
2. Meantime, wrap noodles in clean kitchen towel and break crosswise into quarters. Stir noodles into sauce. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 16-18 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
3. As noodles cook, place meat into skillet; cook and stir over medium high heat 6-8 minutes or until cooked through. Add pressed garlic; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir meat into noodles and sauce.
4. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese. Chop parsley; Set aside 1 Tbsp parsley for garnish. Combine cheeses, remaining parsley and black pepper in a bowl. Scoop cheese mixture over noodles. Cover skillet and simmer gently 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This is fast, easy and my whole family really likes it.