Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Cheryl's Marinara


Ingriedients:
extra virgin olive oil; enough to fill bottom of your skillet
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 bulb of garlic, chopped
a Fist full of fresh parsley, chopped
1 (28 oz) can Whole, peeled tomatoes, undrained (if you can find the Italian kind with basil, even better)
2 chicken bouillon cubes
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp sugar
about 1/3 to 1/2 cup red wine
Refrigerated or Frozen Cheese or Sausage Tortellini
*or your favorite pasta!
Directions:
Heat olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes in a skillet on very low heat while you chop the garlic. Add garlic, let cook for about 30 seconds and then add the parsley.
Immediately add the tomatoes, bouillon cubes, sugar, salt & pepper. Turn heat up to medium-high. Once it starts to bubble, chop the tomatoes up with your spatula, as small as you can.
*NOTE: at this point you're thinking that a can of diced or stewed tomatoes would be MUCH easier...maybe so..but you are Seriously sacrificing TASTE by choosing either of those instead of the whole tomatoes.
Simmer sauce for about 7 minutes, then add the red wine. Turn heat down, simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve with tortellini or other pasta of your choice and some Parmesan cheese! yum~ Thanks Cheryl!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Toasted Pita Chips


Ingredients:
2 pkg pita bread pockets
extra virgin olive oil
garlic salt
italian seasoning
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Cut pita bread pockets in quarters, and then cut again around the sealed edges, creating 8 pita chips with one pita pocket.
Lay pita chips, face up on a cookie sheet. Brush tops with a little olive oil and sprinkle (to taste) with garlic salt and italian seasoning.
Bake for about 2-5 minutes, until chips are toasted brown.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lasagna



Ingredients:
*1 pkg Lasagna Pasta (9 noodles)
*1 lb lean ground beef
*1 jar Roasted Garlic Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
*1 larger tub 2% Cottage Cheese (2 cups)
*2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
*Salt & Pepper

Directions:
1) Start water for noodles; cook as pkg directs. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2) In a skillet, brown the ground beef and drain; return to skillet and add Ragu. Set temperature to low to simmer for about 5 minutes.

3) In a large 13x9 inch casserole dish, layer 3 noodles, 1/2 of the meat sauce, about 1 cup cottage cheese and then top with 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese. Next layer: 3 more noodles, rest of meat sauce, another 1 cup of cottage cheese, another 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella. Top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining Mozzarella cheese.

4) Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbling.

Best served with some Green Baby Spinach and a slice of Texas Toast!

Manicotti


Ingredients:
*12 large Manicotti shells
*4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
*2 cups ricotta cheese
*6 tbsp chopped fresh basil OR 2 tbsp dried
*1 (26 oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce
*1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cook pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain: Rinse with cool water. Let pasta dry on paper towels.
For filling: In medium bowl, Stir together 3 cups of the mozzarella with the ricotta cheese and fresh basil. Using a teaspoon, carefully stuff each pasta shell with prepared cheese mixture.
Spoon 2 cups spaghetti sauce into the prepared baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake Manicotti for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan; bake for 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Italian Beef Sandwiches


Ingredients:
>1 jar (11 1/2 oz) pepperoncinis (pickled peppers)
>1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 1/2 -4 lbs)
>1/4 cup water
>1 3/4 tsp dried basil
>1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
>1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
>1 1/4 tsp salt
>1/4 tsp pepper
>1 large onion, sliced and quartered
>10-12 hard rolls, split
Directions:
1) Drain pepperoncinis, reserving liquid. Remove and discard stems of peppers, set peppers aside. Cut roast into large chunks; place a third of the meat in a 5 qt slow cooker. Add water.
2) In a small bowl, combine the basil, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Sprinkle half the mixture over the beef in the crockpot. Layer with half the remaining meat, the onions, reserved peppers and the pepper liquid. Top with remaining meat and herb mixture.
3) Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender. Shred beef with two forks. Using a slotted spoon, serve beef and peppers on rolls! yummm

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