Easy Crockpot Ziti

If you need an easy meal to feed your family this is it, Easy Crockpot Ziti! I had shared this on TikTok and meant to share it here on my blog I just haven't to it. A follower e-mailed and asked for a printable version of the recipe, here it is. Click here for a PDF Printable. 

If you want to see this recipe in video form you can find it on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. 

I love using my Crockpot and Instant Pot during the summer months when it is too hot to turn on my oven. I also of course love using them during the winter too especially for soups. 

This meal was perfect to feed my family while they were on summer break and it will definitely make the menu rotation with everyone back to school and our calendar full with sports activities. 

Here is what you need.

16 oz. Penne Noodles or Ziti 

45 oz. Pasta Sauce (I used a large bottle from Costco)

Ricotta Mixture:

32 oz. Ricotta Cheese

1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese

1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1 Egg

Directions:

Mix these all together and have ready to start layering in the crockpot.

Spray your crockpot with non-stick cooking spray or use one of those crockpot liners. 

Start the layering process with some pasta sauce as your bottom layer. 

Then a layer of uncooked Penne Noodles or Ziti Noodles, I did about 1-2 handfuls for each layer. 

Add some scoops of Ricotta Cheese on top of the uncooked noodles.

Add a layer of shredded Mozzarella or a Shredded Italian Blend of Cheeses.

Then repeat, sauce, uncooked pasta, ricotta mixture, shredded cheese, more sauce and keep going. 

When you get to the top spread out the last layer of Ricotta so the top looks flat when done also you will be using the last bit of the Ricotta mixture you'll to spread as you won't have as much to do globs. 

Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2/12 to 3 hours.

I like the edges a little crunchy so I cooked ours on high for 3 hours. 

Serve with salad and bread and your family will be thanking you for a yummy dinner and you will be so happy it was easy to make!

I made this with no meat, I love a meatless dinner that is still filling and satisfying like this, but you could easily add a layer of cooked ground beef or a blend of Ground Italian Sausage and Ground Beef.

@blogaboutitall Easy Crockpot Ziti! This is the perfect dinner during summer when you don’t want to use your oven. So easy the kids can help make this meal during summer break! #crockpotmeals #crockpotdinner #crockpotrecipes #easycrockpotziti #crockpotziti #easycrockpotdinner #easycrockpotdinners #familymeals #familymealsonabudget #meatlessmonday #blogaboutitall ♬ Cooking recipes, web advertising, kids, pop(976833) - 8.864

Monster Jam Review Sacramento, CA

Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

We attended the opening night of Monster Jam, it was action-packed with flips, tricks, amazing driving skills, and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action.  All this weekend you can catch Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™ Hurry there are only two shows left, Saturday, August 12th at 7 PM and Sunday, August 13th at 1 PM.

Our family loves going to Monster Jam, the crowd gets into cheering for their favorite truck and drivers. The energy inside the Golden 1 Center is so exhilarating! It really does take so much skill to maneuver those huge trucks that are 12,000 pounds in such a tight spot.

There are competitions between the trucks and you can vote for your favorite right on your phone.  They will have you go to JudgesZone.com and enter a code to start voting. They start out with a racing competition, there is a donut competition, and our favorite the freestyle competition. Gravedigger awed everyone with a backflip. 

Another favorite part of the show is the motorcycles! They also get in on the action, doing jumps and doing flips, and tricks in the air.  If you want a sneak peek check out my TikTok or Instagram Stories @BlogAboutItAll.

Things to know before you go:

Golden 1 Center has a no-bag policy. Only small clutches and wallets smaller than 8"x6"x1" are allowed, they are strict on this, so leave your purses and bags at home, or consolidate them into a small fanny pack size bag.  They permit infant bags and medical bags.  All bags must go through an X-ray machine.  The entry line we were in, went rather quickly and smoothly.

The concession stands accept Apple Pay, which I love because then I just need my phone. They had Monster Jam merch and souvenirs for sale as well as snow cones, popcorn, and Golden 1 Center Food (nachos, hot dogs, pizza, and more). 

If you have never attended Monster Jam, it is really loud, if you have younger kiddos, bringing ear protection or some kind of earplugs is important.  They do have ear protection you can purchase there, but if you want to save some money, buy them before you arrive.  

You can reserve your parking spot ahead of time at SacPark.org. You can also use the Park Whiz App. We parked at The Emerald Tower located at 373 N Street, it was only $8. It was a quick short walk to Golden 1 Center.

WHEN:

Saturday, August 12, 2023 Event Time – 7:00 PM

Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM (Sat. 7pm Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry)

Sunday, August 13, 2023 Event Time – 1:00 PM

Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (Sun. 1pm Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry)

WHERE:  

Golden 1 Center 500 David J Stern Walk Sacramento, CA 95814

The full truck lineup includes:

Grave Digger-Tyler Menninga

El Toro Logo-Armando Castro

Megalodon-Ashley Sanford

Scooby Doo-Loghan Ashline

Monster Mutt Dalmatian-Bailey Shea

Velociraptor-Dave Olfert

Earthshaker-Hunter Souza

Jurassic Attack-Jeff Souza

TICKETS:      

Tickets are affordably priced for the whole family!

Tickets and Pit Passes will be available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com

*ticket prices subject to change – additional venue/ticketing fees may apply.

Follow Monster Jam on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Subscribe to the Monster Jam YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/MonsterJam

About Monster Jam

Unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable, Monster Jam® features world-class athletes competing for championships on perfectly engineered dirt tracks that push these ever-evolving, state-of-the-art trucks to the limit. Beyond the 350 global live events each year, the Monster Jam brand extends off the track into the home through products, content, and merchandise that keeps the fun alive year-round.  For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.

 

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

Tips for Hosting the Best Block Party

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post I was gifted many of the items below and I also am sharing a couple affiliate links from my Amazon Storefront. When you purchase anything from my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. As always I only share products that we enjoy. Thank you for your support! 

Summer is technically coming to an end and the kids are getting ready for back to school, but in California, we are blessed with really great weather so we can still enjoy outdoor entertaining all the way through October.

Have you ever hosted a block party? Hosting a block party is a great way to meet your neighbors, and get to know those in your community. Friends of ours recently hosted a community movie night at a local park with a big inflatable screen and it was such a fun way to meet new people. In our local community neighbors have come together for a block party for Labor Day weekend and even for Halloween. 

Here are some tips for hosting a block party or get-together at a local park.

Let the frozen aisle at your grocery store help! I love a homecooked meal but I also welcome all the help I can get from the frozen food aisle. Especially with back-to-school and kids' sports keeping us all very busy, let the frozen food department help you. 

I love these Sukhi's Frozen Samosas, they are perfect when you’re short on time but want to bring something delicious to the party, frozen appetizers make a great option! These frozen Samosas only need 15 minutes in the oven or 7 minutes in an air fryer. These crispy handcrafted triangles are the perfect bite-sized delicacy and are perfectly sized for party platters. I love a handheld snack or appetizer, they are mess-free and easy to eat. These Sukhi's Samosas come in 4 flavors: Potato, Chicken Tikka Masala, Mango Coconut Chicken, and Jalapeno and Cheese. My favorite is the Jalapeno & Cheese flavor because it’s a perfect combination of American and Indian flavors; they’re sure to spice up any gathering.

Bring fresh fruit to share! You can’t go wrong with bringing fresh fruit to the block party for a refreshing snack. Look for Rave Apples by Stemilt. This is the apple that people can’t stop raving about because of its outrageously juicy flavor and refreshing, snappy zing. These are grown by Stemilt who is actually partnering with Back2School America this season, so every time you buy a Rave apple you are supporting students in need!

Get a digital meat thermometer for easier grilling! With grilling season in full swing, a digital meat thermometer is essential. This one by ThermoPro is excellent, the #1 rated affordable meat thermometer on Amazon, perfect for barbecuing! Here is the link to find it on my Amazon Storefront [Amazon Affiliate].

Connected via the most advanced Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless thermometer for grilling can monitor your cooking from up to 500 feet away so you can wirelessly track your meal’s progress! 

You receive real-time alerts with the smart meat thermometer app, so you don’t have to miss out on socializing.

The app also supports custom timers and shared USDA-recommended preset temperatures to elevate your cooking like a pro every time you fire up your grill.

Plus, it features a meat temperature probe that can simultaneously measure internal meat temperature and ambient pit temperatures, reading temps in just 3 seconds, so you’ll never overcook or undercook again!

Refreshing Drinks! Cold drinks are a must during summer and really any time you are entertaining. Have you tried Sprecher? They are available nationwide and can even be delivered to your doorstep. The Sprecher 12-pack comes in four delicious flavors including Root Beer, Cream Soda, Orange Dream, and Cherry Cola.

This legendary award-winning Root Beer has the rich, creamy flavor that comes from skillfully combining a host of flavors in their gas-fired brew kettle and then aging it just long enough to achieve peak flavor.

Cream soda lovers will love this sweet treat - enjoy it over a glass of ice and enjoy possibly the best cream soda you’ve ever had. 

This Cherry Cola is bursting with the flavor of high-quality local ingredients and every ounce is handcrafted with love and flavor! 

Lastly, here is another summer favorite that’s perfect for Block Parties the Orange Dream, one sip of this citrusy delight is one to remember, hand-crafted to give your taste buds an incredible experience.

Last but certainly not least you need a good cooler to keep your drinks cold. My favorite is my RTIC 45-quart Cooler it is perfect to keep drinks cold, you can find it on my Amazon Storefront [Amazon Affiliate]. Rtic is a reliable brand and they have coolers of all sizes. A hard-sided, insulated cooler is best for keeping a lot of drinks cold for entertaining. The RTIC Hard Cooler is designed for impact resistance, durability, and long-lasting ice retention. With up to 3 inches of closed-cell foam insulation, this insulated cooler is all about extremes. Your food and beverages will stay colder and for longer in this ice chest. This portable cooler is made for portability with heavy-duty rope handles that allow you to take it anywhere. This outdoor cooler comes in 20 qt, 45 qt, and 65 qt. It can double up as a bench, step stool, tabletop, or extra cutting board.

I hope these tips and product ideas help you when you are entertaining next and I hope you will get together with your neighbors or fellow families of your kids' extracurricular activities and host a block party. Community and coming together with the people in our lives is so important for many reasons, we need each other. Every time I get together with the people I work with, worship with, and do life with I leave having learned something new. I know entertaining takes work and effort but it is so worth it. 

A great thing about a block party is you are not responsible for all the drinks and all the food, it is many people coming together and pitching in so everyone can have a great time. If you have never hosted or started one, I bet if you put out the idea to a couple of your friends, you will be pleasantly surprised by their enthusiastic desire to help pull a block party together. 

Monster Jam August 2023 Sacramento, CA

Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

This. Is. Monster Jam™!  The most unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans in the world today returns to Sacramento for an adrenaline-charged weekend at Golden 1 Center from August 11-13, 2023.  At Monster Jam^®, world champion athletes and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. 

Save 20% off select seats/shows with Discount Code: G1CMJ23. You can also use Discount Code GRAVE to save $5 off select seats. Offer ends on 8/11, so hurry and reserve your seats. 

Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world.  Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™

The excitement begins at the Monster Jam Pit Party fan experience prior to the Saturday and Sunday events. Fans can see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers and crews, get autographs, take pictures, and enjoy other family-friendly activities.  This fun-filled experience is the only place that allows people to get up close access to the Monster Jam teams and get an insider’s look at how these trucks are built to stand up to the competition.

Sacramento fans will be on the edge of their seats as world-class drivers show off crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles for the Event Championship.  Engineered to perfection, the 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks push all limits in Freestyle, Skills, and Racing competitions. The Sacramento events feature eight skilled athletes battling for the event championship while tearing up the dirt in intense competitions of speed and skill.

WHEN:

Friday, August 11, 2023 Event Time – 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 12, 2023 Event Time – 7:00 PM

Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM (Sat. 7pm Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry)

Sunday, August 13, 2023 Event Time – 1:00 PM

Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (Sun. 1pm Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry)

WHERE:  

Golden 1 Center 500 David J Stern Walk Sacramento, CA 95814

 

TICKETS:      

Tickets are affordably priced for the whole family!

Tickets and Pit Passes will be available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com

*ticket prices subject to change – additional venue/ticketing fees may apply.

TRUCK LINEUP: Grave Digger® driven by Tyler Menninga; Megalodon® driven by Ashley Sanford; El Toro Loco® driven by Armando Castro; Scooby Doo® driven by Loghan Ashline; Monster Mutt Dalmatian® driven by Bailey Shea; Velociraptor driven by Dave Olfert; Vendetta driven by Mike Christensen; one additional truck/driver to be announced at a later date. **Truck and driver line-up subject to change      

 

Follow Monster Jam on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Subscribe to the Monster Jam YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/MonsterJam

 

About Monster Jam

Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam® features world-class athletes competing for championships on perfectly engineered dirt tracks that push these ever-evolving, state-of-the-art trucks to the limit. Beyond the 350 global live events each year, the Monster Jam brand extends off the track into the home through products, content and merchandise that keeps the fun alive year-round.  For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.

 

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.