(Family Features) Because this time of year can be crazy busy, drive-thru meals can easily become the norm. While fast-food burgers may do the trick once in a while, they can get old quick if your family is eating them every other night. This quick and easy Baked Spaghetti can bring everybody back to the table and it won’t break the bank either. Find more weeknight dinner inspiration at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Baked Spaghetti
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

• 1          pound ground beef
• 1          pound spaghetti noodles
• 1          jar (16 ounces) alfredo sauce
• 1          jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 2          tablespoons garlic powder
• 2          tablespoons onion powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2          cups shredded cheese
• French bread or breadsticks, for serving

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. Brown and drain ground beef. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain noodles; add alfredo sauce and mix well.
3. Add marinara sauce, garlic powder and onion powder to ground beef. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Place noodles in 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spoon beef mixture on top but do not mix in. Cover with shredded cheese then cover with foil and bake 30-40 minutes.
5. Serve with French bread or breadsticks.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

(Family Features) Hearty, comforting foods that go perfectly with cold weather may be some of your family’s favorites, but if all those filling meals are starting to (literally) weigh you down, it’s time for a better-for-you spin.

Add a superfood to your winter menu for cold-weather dishes you can feel good about serving to your loved ones. Sweetpotatoes, known as a “diabetes superfood” by the American Diabetes Association, are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health. They’re a natural sweetener for that “sweet” flavor you crave without the added sugar, making them a perfect addition to this Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole made with sweetpotato puree, warm spices and ground turkey.

A healthy and easy weeknight dinner, this creative spin on a classic casserole takes advantage of sweetpotatoes’ sweet, savory versatility. They enhance both flavor and nutrition content in simple and elevated recipes alike. Plus, they can be cooked and prepared in several ways, such as on the stove, baked, microwaved, grilled, slow cooked or, in this case, boiled and pureed.

Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to discover more ways to cook better-for-you family meals this winter. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpMfx1ZUyBo?si=EZZcgfdjC5sFWSNb&controls=0

Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Servings: 6

• 1          medium North Carolina sweetpotato
• 16        ounces shell pasta (or any kind of noodle)

Ground Turkey:

• 1          tablespoon olive oil
• 1          pound lean ground turkey
• 1/2       medium yellow onion, minced
• 1          teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8       teaspoon salt
• 1/8       teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/4       teaspoon powdered mustard

Cheese Sauce:

• 3          tablespoons tomato puree
• 1/2       cup chicken broth (or any kind of broth)
• 1          cup shredded colby jack cheese, plus additional for topping (optional)
• salt, to taste
•             nonstick cooking spray
• fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Peel sweetpotato and chop into 1-inch cubes. Place in pot and cover with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Cook 13-15 minutes until sweetpotatoes are tender. Drain and let cool 2-3 minutes then puree in food processor or blender.
2. Bring large pot of water to boil. Add shell pasta. Cook until slightly harder than al dente as it will continue to cook in oven.
3. Strain pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
4. To make ground turkey: Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. When olive oil is fragrant, add ground turkey. Break turkey into small pieces. Mix in onion, garlic powder, salt, ground pepper and powdered mustard; cook 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. To make cheese sauce: Heat oven to 375 F and place sweetpotato puree in blender or food processor with tomato puree, chicken broth, 1 cup shredded cheese and salt, to taste. Blend until combined and sauce is smooth.
6. Spray 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place noodles, ground turkey and sweetpotato sauce in casserole dish and mix until coated in sweetpotato cheese sauce. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired, and bake 15 minutes.
7. Remove, let cool 10 minutes and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

SOURCE:
North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

Touchdown-worthy apps to amp up the crowd

(Family Features) The best watch parties have two things in common: good food and good company to root for your team with. Kick off your football feast with appetizers made with a game day favorite: avocados.

With nearly 2.5 billion pounds of avocados imported from Mexico annually, based on Hass Avocado Board Volume Data, the Big Game is the No. 1 occasion where avocados and guacamole are served and prepared. In fact, approximately 250 million pounds of avocados are imported in the weeks leading up to the Big Game, according to “Produce Blue Book” – that’s enough avocados to go down and back the length of a standard professional football field more than 400,000 times.

Just as the first quarter sets the tone for the game, apps are your first opportunity to build excitement and get your guests cheering. Because it’s not game day without guac, start the party by mashing up a bowl of Championship Guac – a real craving crusher made with creamy, delicious Avocados From Mexico and crispy bacon – to sack hunger.

Take your viewing party to a whole new flavor level with Gronkamole. This all-star dip features shredded chicken, blue cheese, Buffalo sauce and the same flare that football great and Avocados From Mexico partner Rob Gronkowski played the game with, so you know it’s ready to tackle every chip, cracker and veggie thrown its way.

These innovative spins on game day guacamole score big when made with fresh avocados, a nutrient-dense fruit everybody can cheer for. They taste good, are good for you and bring the good times on game day.

Find more touchdown-worthy eats, from dips and appetizers to main courses and desserts that are always good at BigGameGuac.com.

Championship Guac

Servings: 10

• 5 Avocados From Mexico, peeled and pitted
• 1 lemon, juice only
• 1/2 cup white onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 pound bacon, fried
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
• crackers, for serving (optional)

1. To prepare avocado: In a bowl, use fork to mash the avocados and lemon juice until creamy. Then add the onion, tomatoes and cilantro.
2. To prepare bacon: Cut the bacon into squares then place it in a hot skillet over medium heat and cook 15 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to a plate to drain excess fat and let cool.
3. To prepare guacamole: Add the bacon, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste, to the guacamole; mix well.
4. To serve, put guacamole in bowl and serve with tortilla chips or crackers, if desired.

Gronkamole

Avocados From Mexico partner Rob Gronkowski’s favorite guacamole recipe
Servings: 4

• 2 Avocados From Mexico
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cup chicken breast, cooked and shredded
• 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
• 3 tablespoons Buffalo sauce
• salt, to taste
• corn chips, for serving (optional)
• carrot sticks, for serving (optional)

1. In a small bowl, mash avocados and stir in lemon juice.
2. Add chicken, blue cheese and Buffalo sauce to guacamole mixture. Add salt, to taste.
3. Serve with corn chips or carrot sticks, if desired.

SOURCE:
Avocados From Mexico