Stuffed Shells with Spicy Sausage Marinara

Stuffed Shells with Spicy Sausage Marinara

You need:
1. ½ lb spicy Italian sausage (I used turkey sausage)
2. 2 cloves minced garlic
3. ½ medium white or yellow onion, chopped
4. 1 packet spaghetti seasoning
5. 6 oz can of tomato paste
6. 15 oz stewed tomatoes
7. 1 tspn parsley
8. ¼ tspn red pepper flakes
9. 1 package cheese stuffed shells (I used Rosetto)
10. ½ cup grated Mozzarella cheese (optional)

You do:
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Remove sausage from casings and brown in medium saucepan. Add garlic and onion while browning.
3. Once meat is browned, add seasoning and stir to coat meat.
4. Add tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, parsley and red pepper flakes to meat. Stir well.
5. Spread shells, open side down, in an oven-safe dish like Pyrex or Corning. At a minimum, you’ll need an 8”x8” dish with deep sides—this makes more than I thought it would!
6. Pour tomato mixture over shells. Do not stir.
7. Cover dish with lid or aluminum foil.
8. Cook 45 minutes at 400F.
9. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top if desired.
10. Serve alongside a salad and bread for an easy, yummy Italian meal!

Nom! Nom!

Sausage Manicotti

Sausage Manicotti--this recipe isn't expensive and it makes enough to feed a small army! Serve it to company alongside a tossed salad. Add some powdered doughnuts for dessert and you've got a yummy, filling meal!

You’ll need:
1. 2 cans Italian stewed tomatoes
2. 1 can tomato paste
3. 1 medium onion diced, divided
4. 1 tspn garlic, divided
5. ¼ cup sugar
6. 1 tspn basil
7. 2 tspn parsley, divided
8. 1 tspn salt
9. ½ tspn black pepper
10. ¼ tspn red pepper flakes
11. 14 manicotti shells
12. ½ lb Italian sausage
13. 15 oz ricotta cheese
14. 2 cups mozzarella
15. 1 egg, lightly beaten

You’ll do:
1. In medium boiler, mix stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, ½ diced onion, and ½ tspn diced garlic. Bring tomato mixture to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Add sugar, basil, 1 tspn parsley, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Once water is boiling, add manicotti shells and cook until done, approximately 12 minutes.
3. Begin to brown sausage in medium saucepan. Add ½ tspn diced garlic and other ½ of the diced onion to meat. Continue to cook until meat is browned through.
4. Once meat is brown, place meat mixture on paper towel to drain grease.
5. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 9x13 pan.
6. In a medium bowl, mix ricotta, 1 ½ cups mozzarella, 1 tspn parsley, and egg. Add meat.
7. When done, drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
8. Fill Ziploc bag with ricotta/meat mixture. Snip corner off of Ziploc bag.
9. Fill manicotti shells with ricotta/meat mixture.
10. Place filled manicotti shells in greased pan. Pour tomato sauce over shells.
11. Cook in 350F oven for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of mozzarella and cook another 10 minutes.

Nam! Nam!

Ham and Mushroom Quiche

1. This is a great main dish to any breakfast or brunch. Full of protein plus some veggies, for an extra nutritious punch!

You need:

1. 6-8 oz turkey sausage, diced
2. 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
3. 3/4 cup diced mushrooms
4. tspn butter
5. 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
6. 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
7. 5 oz evaporated milk
8. 8 oz light sour cream
9. 2 large eggs
10. 2 large egg whites
11. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12. 1 tspn baking powder
13. 1 tspn parsley
14. 1 tspn salt
15. 1/2 tspn black pepper

You will:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease an 8-inch round baking dish with the butter.
3. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmesan cheese in the bottom of the baking dish.
4. Heat mushrooms and onions over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Saute about 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Add diced sausage to pan with onions and mushrooms. Allow to cook about 5 minutes, or until onion is brown and mushrooms are tender.
6. In a large bowl, combine eggs, egg whites, sour cream and evaporated milk.
7. In a smaller bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
8. Using a fork or whisk, add flour mixture to egg mixture while stirring constantly.
9. Add parmesan and cheddar cheeses, salt, black pepper, and parsley to egg mixture.
10. Add meat and veggies into baking dish. Spread mixture so that it is in an even layer.
11. Pour egg mixture over the meat and veggies.
12. Place baking dish on a cookie sheet (in case the quiche runs over) in the oven for 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
13. Allow quiche to sit on counter for 10 minutes.
14. Slice and serve alongside grits, biscuits, and fruit salad for a scrumptio-deli-uptious brunch!

Nam! Nam!

Pigs in a Blanket

I realize these are traditional pigs in blankets--nothing special. But, I figure there might be someone out there who doesn't know exactly what to make them with. And, well, they are one of my fave tailgate foods...

You'll need:

1. 1 package lil' smokies
2. 3 large packages refrigerated crescent rolls

You'll do:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Open first package of crescent rolls and separate dough at perforations. Lay 1 dough triangle on cutting board and cut into 3 pieces with a pizza cutter. I cut them into 3 smaller triangles, but experiment and use what works best for you!
3. Once cut into pieces, lay a lil' smoky on one end of a cut dough piece, and roll so that the dough wraps completely around the sausage.
4. Place each pig in a blanket on a cookie sheet with the exposed end on the bottom.
5. Cook on 350F for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. (Consult the crescent roll package cooking instructions for exact cooking time)
6. Serve immediately.

Nam! Nam!

Breakfast Brownies

Their name may be decieving because they have no sugar, or cocoa, or anything else you would expect from a brownie. However, they have the shape of a brownie, and thanks to Alex for giving them a name for me! Because, let's face it--breakfast casserole is just plain boring! These are great--you prepare the mix ahead of time, so that all you have to do in the morning is throw them in the oven. They include oodles of protein and a little big of vegetable. Serve them with some pancakes, biscuits, or just by themselves for a yummy wake-up call!

You'll need:

1. 12 oz summer sausage (can substitute kielbasa, ham, bacon, or turkey sausage)
2. 1/2 medium sized white or yellow onion, chopped
3. 6 large eggs (only use 5 if you have extra-large)
4. 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
5. 2 heaping tbsp of baking mix (such as bisquick)
6. 1-1/2 cup milk
7. 1/4 tspn salt
8. 1/4 tspn pepper
9. 1 tspn parsley (optional)

You'll do:

1. Chop sausage into small, bite-size pieces.
2. Cook meat and onion in skillet on med heat until onion is tender and meat is slightly browned, about 6-8 minutes.
3. In bowl, add eggs and slightly beat with whisk.
4. Add remaining 6 ingredients to the eggs, and stir just until mixed.
5. Transfer cooked meat mixture to plate lined with paper towels to drain of any grease.
6. Lightly grease or spray a 9x13" dish (such as pyrex).
7. Add meat mixture to dish.
8. Pour egg mixture over meat in dish.
9. Stir until just mixed.
10. Cover and place in a refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
11. Preheat oven to 350F.
12. Cook covered for 45 minutes.
13. Uncover and cook for another 15 minutes. Edges should be brown and middle should be firm when shaken.
14. Remove from oven and allow to sit for about 10 minutes.
15. Slice and serve immediately. (makes about 20 servings)

This is even good re-heated in the microwave. Place slice on microwave plate, cover, and heat 20 seconds on each side.

Nam! Nam!

Sausage Balls

This are great to prepare as a filling appetizer! And, only have 3 total ingredients. Yep--THREE!

You'll need:

1. 1 pound mild or hot ground sausage (such as Jimmy Dean)
2. 7 or 8 oz bag of sharp cheddar cheese
3. 2 cups baking mix (such as Bisquick)

You'll do:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl.
3. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray or line with foil.
4. Pinch off pieces of mix and roll between palms to form a ball (they will expand slightly during cooking).
5. Place sausage balls on pan, about an inch apart.
6. Bake for 15 minutes on 350 F.

Yields 35 sausage balls, each about 1.5 inches in diameter. You can make these smaller or larger depending on your preference.

Enjoy!!