Spaghetti Sauce

I am not even close to ready for summer to be over. My kids are back in school in less than two weeks and we are trying to complete everything we can on our summer bucket list. One fun thing we've done this summer is tend to Summer's Girl Scout troop garden. It has been a lot more work than I really thought it would be, but it has been fun! I will share more about that project later.

Today I wanted to talk about what we are doing with the results of the garden. It has produced an insane amount of zucchini! I love eating and cooking with zucchini but sometimes I feel like there is only so much I can use, so we've been giving away as much as we can after the other parents take what they want!

One of the things I've made is spaghetti sauce. There is nothing quite like a delicious homemade spaghetti sauce, right?



This is a super basic recipe and so easy to make.

1 pound of browned hamburger
3- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2- 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
4 diced cloves of garlic
1 medium onion
2 c diced zucchini
2 Tbsp of both basil and oregano
1 tsp of both salt and pepper
(Sometimes I add mushrooms and peppers as well)

Add all ingredients into a crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours. Let cool before putting in containers to freeze.

As you can see, this recipe is so easy to make! There are very few steps to it and soon you are eating all sorts of delicious recipes from your homemade spaghetti sauce.  We love spaghetti, lasagna, goulash, zucchini boats and the list goes on and on because there is just so much you can do with this sauce.  What are your favorite ways to eat spaghetti sauce?

Delicious Crock pot Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

It is a rainy day here in the Pacific NorthWest and sometimes I might complain about that but not today. Today I am grateful for this rain and watching is wash away some of this insane snow we have had that doesn't want to go away!

That is why today I wanted to share this Crock pot Chicken Tater Tot Casserole with you.

It is so easy to make and it is a perfect warm meal to have on a cooler rainy day.



The ingredients are few, which I love, and with in just a few hours you'll have a yummy dinner.



I started with spraying the inside of the crockpot with non stick cooking spray and cover the bottom with tater tots.



Add half of the bacon bits



Then a layer of cheese.



Now add in your diced chicken



Next you'll add another layer of cheese and then tater tots



Add the rest of the bacon bits



And top with cheese.



Turn on the crockpot and let it cook!



Then enjoy every last bite!

• 1 32 oz. bag frozen tater tots


• 1 3 oz. bag bacon pieces


• 1lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced


• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese


• 3/4 cup milk


• salt & pepper

1. Spray your crockpot with cooking spray


2. Cover the bottom of the crockpot with tater tots


3. Sprinkle with half of the bacon bits


4. Top with a layer of the shredded cheese


5. Add diced chicken on top


6. Layer of shredded cheese


7. Top with the rest of the tater tots


8. Add the last of the bacon bits and shredded cheese


9. Pour milk over the top.


10. Cover and cook on low about 4 hours.

We are tater tot casserole lovers but this was really a fun change from how I normally make it with hamburger!

Have you ever had this? Did your family love it as much as mine?