Sausage & Pepper Baked Ziti

A few years ago, my sister-in-law and I got together to make some freezer meals.  We picked out recipes and shopped ahead of time, and then cooked away while our babies slept.  One of the recipes we made was this baked ziti, and it's actually the only one that I still make often today.

I love how healthy it is, and that it's a change-up from your every-day Italian baked ziti.  I really get sick of that, don't you?  This recipe was originally meant to make two casseroles, one to eat right away, and one to freeze for later.  It also says it makes 8 servings total, but I have found that each casserole feeds more like 5-6.  If you plan to freeze one for later, buy an aluminum 9x9 pan, and wrap it in foil after preparing, but before baking.  Cool in refrigerator, then freeze.  Transfer it from the freezer to refrigerator the night before you plan on eating it.

Sausage & Pepper Baked Ziti
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1 pound sweet and/or hot Italian or Turkey sausage links, casings removed
4 cloves garlic, finely minced or crushed with press
2 large red, orange, or yellow peppers, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 jumbo onion, cut in half, then sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 pound sliced white mushrooms
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato puree or petite diced tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1 pound whole wheat ziti or penne pasta
1-2 cups part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to box directions, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water
.
In deep 12-inch skillet, cook sausage on medium heat for 10 minutes, or until browned, breaking up as it cooks.  Transfer to small bowl and set aside.  Remove any drippings left in pan.

Preheat oven to 400*F.
Cook garlic, peppers, onion, and mushrooms, covered (stirring occasionally) for 10 minutes.  Remove lid and cook 8 minutes more, or until liquid is evaporated.  Stir in tomatoes and salt.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 10 minutes.  Add sausage, cheese, and pasta into sauce.  If needed, add some of reserved pasta water.  Divide into two 2 1/2 quart baking dishes (I use an 8x8 pan), or one 9x13 if making just one pan. Sprinkle Pecorino or Parmesan over the top and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until top browns and sauce is bubbling.  Let stand ten minutes before serving.

Will you forgive me? I made you pumpkin pancakes!

So.  If you look at the date of the previous post, you will see that it was over a year ago.  A lot has happened since then.

This happened.

We also moved when he was only 10 days old.

My baby started Kindergarten.

I've probably tried at least 100 new recipes.

I am going to do this a little simpler this time around.  My goal is one recipe per week.  I'm not going to specify a day, or a time by which it needs to be posted.  I absolutely love trying recipes, taking pictures, and writing, but I put so much pressure on myself before that it stopped being fun.  And that's what this is for.  Just for fun.  So this is a new beginning, and I'm excited to be sharing recipes with you again.

It's September, and fall is in the air.  I LOVE fall.  I love the sunshine combined with the cool breeze.  I love having my windows open.  I love boots, skinny jeans, and sweaters.  I love coffee (even more than normal), and baking up lots of yummy treats to go with it.  My crockpot is getting a workout lately.  Of course, it goes without being said that I also love fall for PUMPKIN.  Pumpkin everything.

I started with pumpkin pancakes.  I made them for my girls one day for breakfast, and they inhaled them.  They each ate three.  I may have, as well.  They were wonderful, and I think I will probably make them again tomorrow :)

I'm happy to be up and rolling again.  I hope that you are too!

Pumpkin Pancakes

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup milk*
6 Tbs pumpkin puree
2 Tbs melted butter
1 egg
2 Tbs pure maple syrup**
1 tsp vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl.  Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, being careful not to over-mix.  Lumps are good. 
Heat skillet over medium heat.  Melt a small amount of butter in the pan, then pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake into the pan.  Cook until golden brown, and dried around the edges. Flip, and continue cooking until golden.  Serve with butter and pure maple syrup.

Yield: 8-10.  Adapted from Martha Stewart.

* I use almond milk
** If you do not have maple syrup, you can add 2 Tbs sugar to  your dry ingredients.

Summer Fruit Salad with Lemon and Mint

It’s hot this week.  Like 100 degrees hot.  Which means spending time in water (if you can handle the heat then), or spending in in air conditioning (if you can’t).  Either way, this salad needs to be on your menu.  Maybe even twice every day, it is simply that good.  The mint and lemon simple syrup adds an amazingly refreshing quality, and I am considering making it for every fruit salad I ever make in the future. 

You can definitely stray from the recipe here.  Add any fruit you want, although I think the watermelon needs to stay.  I also found that the syrup (for me) was enough for two salads.  You can decide what is enough for you!

 I liked the strength of the mint, but if you aren’t too sure, only steep one or two mint sprigs in the syrup, and skip the mint garnish.  My husband thought it was a bit strong, so I will skip the garnish next time I make it.

Which will probably be tonight.

Summer Fruit Salad with Lemon and Mint
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¼ cup sugar
¼ cup water
3 sprigs fresh mint
1 lemon, zested
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash of salt
3 cup cubed watermelon
2 cups fresh blueberries
Chopped mint (optional), for garnish

Bring water and sugar to a simmer in small sauce pan.  Remove from heat, and add mint sprigs.  Cover and steep for 10 minutes.  Add lemon zest, juice, and dash of salt.  Toss with fruit, and let stand 15 minutes (I refrigerated it at this point). Top with chopped mint and serve.

Source: Food Network Magazine

I'm Back...

I apologize for being gone so long!  We were camping for two weeks, and while I had planned to post during that time, my photos were not uploading properly, and, really, who wants a recipe without a photo??  I will have new recipes later this week, but for now, this is some of what we cooked while camping.

Cherry Cream Cheese Hobo Pies (at least that's what we always called them--is that offensive???)

Classic Pizza, probably my favorite.

Marshmallow and Reeses.  That was pretty good too!

Grilled Chicken & Avocado Pizza--there's a recipe coming for this one, it is one of my favorites!

 Of course we had LOTS of these...

Shortcakes

I was able to go pick strawberries with my mom, sister-in-law, and cousin this past week.  We had three 3-year-olds with us, and we were able to fill our baskets surprisingly quick with very little distractions!  We also had very little help from the three-year-olds, but at least they didn't keep us from picking  :)

I know I've already said this, but I just love summer and all of the fresh produce and berries that it brings.  You could use any fruit (or even a combination of your favorites) with these shortcakes, and not go wrong.  Try blueberries, raspberries, or peaches!  When you make a batch of shortcakes and freeze some, you can simply reheat however many you want, and serve it up with whatever fruit you have on hand.  What a great, quick and easy summer dessert!

Shortcakes
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2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for dusting tops
4 tsp baking powder
12 Tbs cold butter, cut into squares
2 eggs, lightly beaten
8 oz light sour cream
1 tsp vanilla

Berries and ice cream or freshly whipped cream to serve.

Preheat oven to 425*F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Combine flour, sugar, and baking powder in a medium bowl.  Using pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles large peas.  Stir in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, just until mixture is moistened.  If it still seems dry, add a little bit of milk, 1 Tbs at a time, until combined.

Scoop 1/4 cup of batter for each shortcake, spacing 2 inches apart on baking sheet.  Sprinkle each shortcake with some sugar.  Bake 12-14 minutes, until deeply golden on top, rotating pan halfway through.  Let cool slightly, then cut in half horizontally to serve.

Store extras in the freezer, then thaw and toast (sliced in half) in toaster to reheat/crisp.

Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken

Grandma Pipp's Cinnamon Rolls

I am picky about my cinnamon rolls.  Maybe it has something to do with growing up on these.  They really are the best.  And it's certainly not just me who thinks so!  I am guessing that there are literally hundreds of people who know Grandma's rolls, and request them often.  The first time I made them, I remember smelling the dough as it mixed, and it bringing me back to Grandma's kitchen.  I love having recipes that are just as special (if not more so) for their memories as they are for the actual product. 

I made this batch of rolls to bring to my new neighbors.  She came over just a couple hours after I brought them to her house, and could not stop raving about them.  She said Arnie's (a local bakery/restaurant) has nothing on these cinnamon rolls.  I always just smile and give credit to Grandma.  The dough is perfectly sweet and tender, and I think the real kicker is the glaze.  Nothing beats brown sugar and butter in my book, and I usually find myself wishing I could just eat the entire bowl of glaze.

Grilled Chicken & Vegetables with Pasta

Berry Cobbler

MIA...

I am so sorry that I have been MIA for over a week.  Last weekend, I was busy working on these cupcakes for my brother's graduation open house.

PayDay Bars

I’ve always wondered who buys those candy bars in the check-out lane.  I’ve never bought them.  I’ve never seen anyone else buy one.  And really, apart from Halloween, I just don’t buy candy bars at all.  They just seem kind of gross.  Then, the other day, I realized that I may not BUY candy bars, but I do EAT them.  Remember these?   And how about those other bars?  And now, here’s another one.  They’re basically candy bars in homemade bar form!  Who knew?

PayDay Bars
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1 package vanilla cake mix
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg
3 cups mini marshmallows
2/3 cup light corn syrup
¼ cup butter
1 bag peanut butter chips
2-3 cups dry roasted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350* F.
Mix cake mix, butter, and egg using electric mixer until combined.  Press into lightly greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  It will still be light, and not baked through.  Carefully sprinkle marshmallows over the top.  Return to oven until marshmallows are puffed and lightly browned.  Cool.

Bring corn syrup and butter to a rolling boil.  Remove from heat and add peanut butter chips.  Stir until combined.  Pour over marshmallows.  Immediately sprinkle with peanuts.  Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

White Chicken Pizza

We very rarely order pizza.  Partly because I am cheap, and partly because it’s healthier when you can make it yourself!  I just recently tried this pizza dough from Annie’s Eats, and it will definitely be my new go-to crust.  I knew the second I grabbed the dough out of the mixer and felt how smooth and soft it was that it was going to be good.  Because I didn’t have any parchment paper on hand, I made my pizza on a non-pre-heated pizza stone at 400*.  It was still fantastic, so I am super excited to try it again with the parchment paper.  Baking it so hot on a pre-heated stone makes the bottom of the crust crispy while the top stays soft, just like it does from a restaurant. 

This white chicken pizza is one of my favorite ways to make pizza when it is just for me and my husband.  The flavors blend so well together, and the white, red, and green is pretty and looks like the Italian flag.  If you feel like changing up your regular pepperoni, this is a great way to do it!

White Chicken Pizza
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½ recipe pizza dough (freeze other half, or top as desired)
Cream Sauce (recipe below)
1 cup part-skim Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup shredded chicken
½ of a large tomato, diced
2-3 stalks of green onions, finely chopped
¼  cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cream Sauce

4 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
¼ cup skim milk
1 clove garlic, finely minced OR ½ tsp garlic powder
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients in small sauce pan.  Stir to combine as cream cheese melts, adding  more milk by the tablespoon if too thick. Once smooth, remove from heat.

Pizza Dough

Chewy Granola Bars

Spinach Smoothie

 

Come on, keep reading!  Would I lead you astray??  The truth is, you don't even taste the spinach in this, it's just a great boost of iron, beta-carotene, and fiber.  And a great way to get a serving of vegetable in before 8:00!  The great thing about this recipe (and, really, most recipes), is that you can adapt it to whatever you have on hand.  You could sub frozen strawberries or peaches for the blueberries, add more fresh fruit, or change what juice you use.  Just make sure it's 100% juice.  This smoothie is a great way to start the day, and makes enough for me to share with my 3-year-old, who LOVES it.  I find that I make better food and exercise decisions throughout the day when I start my day right.  Go ahead.  Give it a try.

Caramel Apple Pie

Pie Crust

This is by far my favorite pie crust.  It is flaky and tender and just plain yummy.  Just beware that it kind of wants to be the star of your pie! :)

Pie Crust
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3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups shortening
1 egg
5 Tbs cold water
1 tsp vinegar

Cut shortening into flour and salt mixture.  Beat egg, water, and vinegar together.  Blend with flour mixture just until moist.

Will be flakier if frozen.

Yield: 2 double pie crusts (if you are better at rolling out pie dough than I am)
Source: Kathy Crawford

Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Orange Zest

Baked Oatmeal

My girls prefer a hot breakfast each morning, so I am always on the look-out for new ideas.  While they do not get bored of eggs or pancakes, I do!  I found this baked oatmeal, and knew it could be great not only for weekday mornings, but for weekends or even as part of a brunch menu.  You can sub in any fruit or nut combo that you like or just use whatever you have on hand!  The texture is almost cake-like with the egg, butter, and brown sugar, and it is so warm and comforting.  Try making it this weekend for your family!  If you need more than four servings, simply double it and bake in a 9x13 instead.

Baked OatmealPrinter-Friendly Version

3 cups old-fashioned oats (quick-cooking will not stand up to the baking)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup melted butter

splash of vanilla
1 egg

1/2 cup skim milk (any fat content will work)
Handful dried cherries (if desired)

To serve:

Fresh berries
Pistachios or toasted, sliced almonds\
Hot milk, to serve


Preheat oven to 350*F
Stir dry ingredients together.  Whisk butter, vanilla, egg, and milk in separate bowl, then stir into dry mixture.  Fold in dried cherries.   Pour into a lightly greased pie plate.

Caramel-Swirl Blondies

I was eight years old when my baby brother was born.  I loved babies, and I became a sort of "second Mom".  I carried him with me all over and I played with him.  I liked to dress him.  When he got a little older, I was the one he wanted to tuck him in if my parents were gone.  We've always been close, and I've always seen him as my baby brother.

My baby brother is all grown up now.  He's six feet tall, turns eighteen in a couple of weeks, AND...he has a girlfriend.  Which is so weird to me.  Good, just weird.  She's a sweet girl who comes from a great family, and they are cute together.

My brother called last week to see if they could come watch the hockey game with us.  I wanted to make a sweet treat, and I wanted something quick.  I went to my new Williams-Sonoma Baking cookbook and found these yummy Blondies.  I also wanted a caramel swirl in them, so I made up some caramel, swirled it in the Blondies, and hoped for the best.  They were super yummy, and were perfect with a cup of strong coffee (is there any other kind??).  Which, by the way, my baby brother drank.  Again, weird.  Life is making me feel a little old lately, for the first time ever.  My brother will be going away to college in the fall, and that will be weird, too.  I'll miss him.  Love you, Buddy!