Creamy Tomato Tortellini with Sausage

 We are staying with our daughter, son-in-law & granddaughter while we are awaiting the closing of our new home in The Villages, Florida. I must say our son-in-law has cooked some amazing dinners! This recipe is one I HAD to get from him...truly restaurant quality!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. cheese tortellini
• 4 links Italian Sausage (either remove the casing or slice the sausage
• 2 - 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1.5 or 2 tsp. garlic cloves
• 8 oz. block cream cheese, cubed
• approximately 6 oz. baby spinach

Directions:

1. Bring water to boil and cook tortellini according directions.
2. In large skillet, brown sausage. Drain fat if needed.
3. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic & spinach to browned sausage, and stir in cubed cheese until incorporated.
4. Drain tortellini. Add to sauce. Toss & serve.

Mama Sherri's Keto Lasagna

 Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. Italian sausage (We prefer hot rather than sweet.)
• 1 small can sliced mushrooms
• 2 cups Rao marinara
• 15 oz. Ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (in the bag...not the green can)
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• parsley flakes

Directions:

1. Set oven temperature to 375°.
2. Spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam.
3. Brown sausage in frying pan.
4. While sausage is browning, mix together the Ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning & salt.
5. After sausage is cooked, layer in the following order:
1. Italian sausage
2. sliced mushrooms
3. Rao marinara
4. Ricotta cheese mixture
5. shredded mozzarella
6. Sprinkle with parsley flakes
6. Bake for approximately 20 minutes (until edges are brown). Then change from baking to 2 minutes of broiling (then the top looks perfect).
7. Let lasagna rest for 10-20 minutes before serving (if you can wait that long...hahaha).
8. May serve with a simple Italian salad (Romaine, sliced pepperocinis, sliced purple onions, shredded parmesan cheese & Olive Garden salad dressing).
9. May also serve with Low Carb Cheese Sticks (recipe is on this blog)

Very Easy (& Delicious) Low Carb Pizza

 Ingredients:

• Carb Balance tortillas

• Rao’s marinara sauce

• Mozzarella cheese

• Pizza seasoning

• Pizza toppings (your choice)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Spray skillet with Pam (olive oil spray).

3. Brown tortilla on both sides.

4. Then put tortilla on a pizza pan or stone.

5. Spread tortilla with marinara sauce.

6. Top with mozzarella cheese.

7. Sprinkle with pizza seasoning.

8. Add pizza toppings.

9. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until it is golden.

Keto Pizza Bowls

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup red sauce (We prefer Rao’s.)

• 1/2 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• Your favorite pizza toppings (We like pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, green peppers, black olives, onion, mushrooms.)

• Pizza seasoning

• Powdered parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. Spray small baking bowl (or dish) with Pam (preferably avocado spray)

3. Layers:

• 1/4 cup red sauce 

• Sprinkle with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.

• Layer with your favorite toppings 

• Sprinkle with pizza seasoning.

• Spread with more red sauce.

• Sprinkle with more mozzarella cheese

4. Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with powdered parmesan cheese after it’s taken out of the oven.

Crustless Pizza

 Supreme Pizza Ingredients:

• no sugar marinara sauce (Rao marinara is delicious!)

• shredded mozzarella

• hot Italian sausage

• thinly sliced green peppers

• thinly sliced onions (I prefer red onions)

• sliced black olives

• sliced mushrooms

• pepperocinis

• pepperoni

• pizza seasoning

Beth’s Pizza Ingredients:

• no sugar marinara sauce (Rao marinara is delicious!)

• shredded mozzarella

• thinly sliced green peppers

• thinly sliced onions (I prefer red onions)

• pepperocinis

• pepperoni

• pizza seasoning

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam.

3. Take sausage out of casing and brown in skillet.

4. Remove browned sausage and add green peppers and onions to skillet. Cook until softened.

5. Layers:

• Thin layer of marinara sauce

• Shredded mozzarella

• Sprinkle pizza seasoning

• Add all toppings

• Sprinkle more pizza seasoning

• Top with more mozzarella

Loaded Italian Salad

 Ingredients:

• chopped Romaine lettuce

• grape tomatoes, sliced long ways

• whole black olives

• sliced pepperocinis

• thinly sliced red onion

• pepperoni

• diced salami

• diced ham

• shredded mozzarella

• shredded parmesan cheese

• chopped provolone

• Italian croutons (no croutons if Keto)

• Olive Garden dressing

Mix and enjoy!

Low Carb Pizza

Ingredients for crust:

• 12 oz. freshly grated mozzarella

• handful shredded parmesan

• 2 full eggs and one egg white

• 1 cup almond flour

• 1 TBSP. dried oregano

• 1 TBSP. onion salt

• 1 TBSP. garlic powder

• 1 TBSP. freshly grated black pepper

Ingredients for topping:

• Favorite low carb pizza sauce

• Favorite toppings

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees

• Spray pan lightly or butter pan

• Thoroughly mix ingredients for crust with wooden spoon.

• Press and spread crust mixture into a deep dish pan smaller than 9x13 (fits Detroit style pan). (I might use the brownie pan I buy from Ocean State Job Lot.)

• Bake 12-15 minutes.

• Top with pizza sauce.

• Top with toppings.

• Broil for 5-10 minutes.

Low Carb Cheese Sticks

INGREDIENTS:

soft butter 

1 low carb tortilla 

1 TBSP grated parmesan cheese (powdered in the can) 

handful of mozzarella 

no sugar marinara sauce 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Spread salt and butter onto low carb tortilla. 
3. Sprinkle 1 TBSP grated (powder) parmesan cheese. 
4. Sprinkle with pizza or Italian seasoning. 
5. Add a heaping handful of shredded mozzarella. 
6. Sprinkle more garlic parmesan seasoning. 
7. Bake 7-8 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. 
8. Serve with marinara or dip in ranch.

Pizza

Ingredients:

• store bought pizza dough (found in deli) ~ we prefer wheat
• store bought pizza sauce (Ragu)
• toppings of your choice (we usually use pepperoni, sausage, bacon, onions, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms)
• Pizza seasoning
• grated mozzarella cheese
• olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. While oven is preheating, assemble pizza in the following order:
• spread dough on pizza stone
• spread 1/2 jar of pizza sauce onto dough
• put grated cheese on top of sauce
• add all toppings
• sprinkle with pizza seasoning
• add more grated cheese
• drizzle olive oil on top
3. Bake on bottom shelf of oven for 10 minutes.
4. Bake on top shelf of oven for 10 minutes or until done.

Chicken Piccata

This recipe is good delicious and so hard easy to make. Everyone will think you are a gourmet cook...even if you're not.
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts (I like to use five 5 oz. chicken breasts from Sam's Club because they are the perfect serving size already. They can be found in the freezer section.)
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
• 1/3 cup flour
• salt & pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• dash red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup brined capers
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley (optional)
• cooked angel hair pasta

Directions:

1. If using the 5 oz. chicken breasts......put them between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat hammer to 1/4 inch thickness.
2. If using regular size chicken breasts......cut them horizontally, butterflying them open. Cut in half if chicken breast are still too large, and then put them between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat hammer to 1/4 inch thickness.
3. Mix together grated parmesan, flour, salt & pepper.
4. Rinse chicken pieces in water.
5. Dredge rinsed chicken pieces thoroughly in flour mixture until completely coated.
6. Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in large skillet on medium high heat.
7. Add half the chicken pieces. Do not crowd the pan.
8. Brown well, approximately 3 minutes per side.
9. Remove chicken from frying pan and cook the remaining chicken breasts.
10. Place cooked chicken in dish covered with foil in warm oven while preparing the sauce.
11. Add chicken stock, lemon juice and capers to the pan.
12. Use a spatula to scrape up the brown bits.
13. Reduce the sauce by half.
14. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter.
15. Serve chicken atop cooked angel hair pasta.
16. Pour sauce over chicken.
17. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Nikol's Garlic Bruschetta

This bruschetta is amazing, and it is SOOOO GOOOOOD! I just love All Recipes because I always find great recipes there. I only make the 5-star recipes because there are so many to pick and choose from. I hope you enjoy this simple and delicious bruschetta too!

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
7 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 sourdough baguette, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
1 (4 ounce) package semi-soft cheese with garlic and herbs (such as Alouette®)

Directions:

1. Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, and garlic in a bowl. Stir in the chopped tomatoes; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; place in the refrigerator to marinate for 20 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the bread slices in a single layer on a large baking pan.
3. Bake in the oven until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove to cool on a wire rack.
4. When the bread is cool, spread the semi-soft cheese evenly over each slice. Using a slotted spoon, spoon some of the tomato mixture over each slice.

Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread

There are some really good recipes at Confections of a Foodie Bride, and this Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread Recipe is one of my favorites! I don't have a large bundt pan because I would rarely use it, but I have individual bundt pans that I use often. I thought I would try this recipe to make individual Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Breads. Guess what??? They turned out adorable and delicious. Bill and I plan on bringing the leftovers to work and school tomorrow.

Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks (just like in restaurants)

These Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks really do taste like the ones you buy at a restaurant! Thanks to Lauren from Lauren's Latest Recipe Website.This was my first attempt to make them, and I think I will revise the recipe next time. This will be my plan...

Ingredients:

1 lb. store bought pizza dough, thawed
3 tablespoons softened salted butter
2-3 tsp. minced garlic
1/4-1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (in the bag, not the can)
1/4-1/2 pound grated mozzarella cheese
salt & pepper, if desired

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees with pizza stone inside.
2. Mix butter and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Spread pizza dough out into a 12-16 inch circle on parchment paper.
4. Spread the butter and garlic mixture over dough and top with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
5. Top with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired.
6. Lift parchment paper, with dough & toppings on it, and place it on the hot stone.
7. Bake 9-10 minutes.

The BEST Cheesy Garlic Bread

I serve this bread when we have a pizza & wings night. It is also delicious with pasta.

Ingredients:
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
3 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 loaf of Italian or French Sourdough bread

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients with a fork.
3. Slice bread in half.
4. Spread mixture over bread.
5. Place bread on baking sheet cheese side up, and bake for about 10 minutes until top is golden brown.

Antipasto Salad

Ingredients:
chopped Romaine lettuce
sliced salami
sliced pepperoni
diced deli ham
diced Roma tomatoes
sliced black olives
cubed provolone cheese
cubed mozzarella cheese
Italian dressing

Directions: Choose how much of each ingredient you want, and mix all ingredients together.

Insalata Caprese

Ingredients:
4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4" thick
1 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4" thick
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
fine sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. On a large platter, alternate and overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices and basil leaves.
2. Drizzle with olive oil.
3. Season with sea salt and pepper.

Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients:
1 (16 oz.) pkg. spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (26 oz.) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt (I use Lawry's.)
2 eggs
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
5 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
3. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
4. Stir the spaghetti sauce and seasoned salt with the beef and onions.
5. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter.
6. Drain spaghetti; add egg mixture and toss to coat.
7. Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
8. Top with half of the cottage cheese, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
9. Repeat layers.
10. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
11. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Please let me apologize to my Italian friends. This is about as close as I am to making an Italian dish. Your dishes are THE BEST! One day I hope to learn how to make your authentic Italian sauce.

Antipasto Squares

Ingredients:
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
1/3 lb. sliced ham
1/3 lb. sliced provolone cheese
1/3 lb. sliced Swiss cheese
1/3 lb. sliced salami
1/3 lb. pepperonis
3 eggs
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam.
3. Unroll one package of crescent rolls and spread in bottom of dish.
4. Layer salami, provolone cheese, ham, Swiss cheese and pepperoni on top of the dough.
5. In a measuring cup (or bowl), beat the eggs lightly, then stir in the parmesan cheese and black pepper.
6. Pour 3/4 of this mixture evenly in dish. (You should have a little less than 1/4 cup left.)
7. Unroll the second package of dough, and place on top of the meat and cheese.
8. Brush with the remaining egg mixture.
9. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
10. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes, or until dough is fluffy and golden brown.
11. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold. (Cut smaller squares for appetizers and larger squares for sandwiches.)

Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Quick Bread

I tried a new recipe from Picky Palate last night. You must check it out if you like pepperoni pizza. It was quite a hit with Bill! The beauty of this Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Quick Bread is that it requires only items that I typically keep in my cupboard, refrigerator and freezer. I have a tendency to over-buy groceries, so I have been preparing meals this week from ingredients I already have at home. It's been a good week to clean out the cupboards!