Baked Ziti

Ingredients:
Sauce
2 Tbsps olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 Tbsps tomato paste
2 tsps sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can (14.5 oz) basil & oregano diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

Ziti & cheese
1 box (16 oz) ziti
8 oz shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup grated Parmesean cheese

Heat oven to 375
Coat 13 x 9 x 2" pan with nonstick cooking spray
Heat oil in a 3 quart sauce pan over medium heat
Add onion & cook 4 mins
Add garlic & cook another min
Stir in whole tomatoes & their juice breaking tomatoes apart with wooden spoon
Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, salt & pepper
Simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 mins
Remove pan from heat
Stir in diced tomatoes & basil
Cook pasta according to directions on package
Drain & mix ziti with tomato sauce
Pour mixture into prepared pan
Top with cheese
Bake 20-25 mins

Basil Parmesan Dip

Ingredients:
1 cup lightly packed basil leaves (about 1/2 oz)
3/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
2 tsps lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to food processor or blender
Process until smooth
Serve with pita chips/crackers

Mexican Potato Sausage Casserole

Ingredients:
12 oz ground chorizo or Italian sausage*
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 package Simply Potatoes® Southwest Style Hash Browns
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 medium tomato, seeded, chopped


Heat oven to 350°F
Spray 8 or 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
In 10-inch skillet cook sausage and green pepper over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until sausage is browned and cooked through; drain
Place half of the Simply Potatoes in prepared baking dish
Top with half of the sausage and 3/4 cup of cheese; repeat
Combine eggs and milk in medium bowl; beat well with fork 
Pour egg mixture evenly over layered mixture in pan
Cover with foil; bake for 45 minutes
Uncover; add chopped tomato and remaining 1/2 cup cheese
Bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean
Let stand 10 minutes before serving


* I used Italian sausage

Sizzling Sage Butter Pasta

Recipe found in cookbook Pasta by Eric Treuille & Anna Del Conte

Ingredients:

1 lb dried pasta (ribbons or stuffed pasta)

6 Tbsps butter

2 garlic cloves, peeled & halved

16 fresh sage leaves

freshly grated Parmesan

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling, salted water until firm to the bite

While pasta is cooking, heat butter & garlic in a skillet over medium heat until just golden

Add sage leaves & cook, stirring until fragrant (30 seconds)
Remove & discard garlic

Drain pasta & return to the warm pasta pot
Add hot butter & sage to pasta; toss well to coat

Serve immediately with Parmesan

Spinach & Walnut Pesto Pasta

Quick dinner. Be careful not to overdo the garlic!

Ingredients:

1 cup packed, stemmed spinach leaves

4 garlic cloves, crushed

3 Tbsps walnut pieces

6 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

salt & pepper

1 lb dried pasta (tubes or shells)

Place spinach, garlic, walnuts & olive oil in a food processor; pulse until smooth

Transfer to a bowl

Mix in Parmesan until well combined

Add salt & pepper to taste

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling, salted water until firm to the bite

Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water

Return pasta to pot, toss with pesto adding reserved water as needed

Serve immediately

Rocky Road Bars (Minus the Nuts)

These are delicious & addicting!

Recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker

Ingredients:
1 box super moist devil's food cake

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup chopped nuts*

3 cups miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup plain M&Ms

1/3 cup pre-made chocolate frosting

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan)

Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray or shortening

In large bowl, stir together half of the dry cake mix, the butter, water, brown sugar and eggs until smooth

Stir in remaining cake mix and the nuts; spread in pan

Bake 20 minutes (25 minutes for dark or nonstick pan)

Sprinkle with marshmallows

Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer (14 to 18 minutes longer for dark or nonstick pan) or until marshmallows are puffed and golden

Sprinkle with M&Ms

In small microwavable bowl, microwave frosting uncovered on High 15 seconds; drizzle over bars

Cool completely, about 1 hour

Cut into bars

*I am not a big fan of nuts in baked goods & didn't include them when making these

Uglies

Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com

These don't look pretty but they sure taste good!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp garlic powder

18 oz BBQ sauce
1 package (8 biscuits) refrigerated biscuit dough

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400°

Lightly grease 8 muffin cups

In a large skillet, cook ground beef with onion & garlic powder

Stir in BBQ sauce & simmer 3 mins

Place biscuits in greased tins; make a well in the center of each biscuit

Fill biscuit with meat mixture; top with cheese

Bake in oven until biscuits are baked & cheese is melted, about 15 mins