Category Archives: Italian

Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread

So, we love carbs at our house. Love them. I am a big label reader, however, so I was SUPER happy when I found these rolls in a can that met my label reading standards. Woot!

My family loved these and we also thought it would be great if we could make a sweet version with cinnamon and sugar. Maybe I will get to that next week, in the meantime enjoy this yummy goodness.

Ingredients:
1 can of refrigerated biscuits (not the flaky layers kind)
1/2 stick of butter
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian Seasoning

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Throw the cold stick of butter in a bundt pan and let it melt in the preheating oven.

While the butter melts, cut the biscuits into quarters.

In a bowl, toss the biscuit pieces, garlic, Italian Seasoning, and Parmesan cheese together.

Once the butter is melted, add the biscuit mixture, sprinkling with any cheese and garlic that gets let behind in the bowl.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20- 25 minutes until golden brown. Turn out on a dish and enjoy!

What did the family think? They LOVED it!

Where did this recipe come from? I have seen this on Pinterest a lot, but I got this version from The Virtuous Wife

Photo from Gumbo Gang

Leave a Comment

Filed under Bread, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Balsamic Pasta with Veggies (and Italian Sausage)

This has been a popular one on Pinterest lately so I had to give it a try. I liked it with the sausage, but it would also be a wonderful vegan dish without the sausage. I think it might even be better without the sausage. Try it either way; it’s good!

Ingredients:
14 oz package penne, cooked according to the directions
4 T balsamic vinegar
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 links chicken sausage, sliced
1 1/2 cups sauteed sliced zucchini
Parmesan Cheese or goat cheese, optional but highly recommended

Instructions:
In a large serving bowl combine the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. Whisk to combine. In a large skillet saute the chicken sausage and the zucchini together, until crisp tender, and the sausage is heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.

Add the cooked and drained pasta to the serving bowl with the vinaigrette at the bottom. Top with the zucchini (and sausage). Stir to combine, and make sure everything is evenly coated. Serve with cheese if desired.

What did the family think? No one was up for this last night. So I ate this and everyone else just ate their pasta with regular sauce. They missed out. 🙂

Where did this recipe come from? I got it from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts and they got it from Bake Your Day.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Italian, Lent, Vegetarian

Stuffed Pizza Rolls

Well, we have another new favorite recipe around here. These were really good and I am pretty sure everyone had thirds, maybe even fourths. These would be a tasty appetizer or you could do what we did and turn them into a meal with a salad and some fruit.

1-2 rolls refrigerated pizza dough (depending on how many people you are serving)
marinara/pizza sauce
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
8-12 ounces mozzerella cheese, diced or grated (diced is the least messy to use when stuffing the rolls)
Pizza toppings of your choice: ie, ham and pineapple, pepperoni slices, sausage, etc.

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and lightly spray a baking dish or large pie plate.

Unroll pizza onto a lightly floured surface and press into a 12″ X 8″ rectangle. Cut rectangle into 24 squares. Place pepperoni and cheese (or desired toppings) into the center of each square. Gather the sides of each square up and pinch closed to create a ball. Place each ball seam side down in the baking dish.

When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings. Pinch to make sure each ball is sealed shut and then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish).

In a small ramekin stir melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasonings together. Brush tops of rolls with melted butter mixture using a pastry brush. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over rolls.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.

Serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

What did the family think? This recipe was a major hit.

Where did this recipe come from? I got it from The Girl Who Ate Everything and she got it from Our Best Bites

photo from Cooking with the Keys

Leave a Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian

Meatball Sliders

The whole family loved these and were asking for, not seconds, but thirds! These would make a great appetizer, but we made them into a meal by adding a salad and some fruit. What was also awesome about this meal is that I walked in the door at 6:30 and had it on the table by 6:57 when I walked out the door for a 7:00 meeting.

Ingredients:
24 frozen meatballs, thawed
2 cups marinara sauce (plus some extra on the side for dipping)
8 ounces sliced provolone or mozzarella
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
24 dinner rolls or 8 hot dog buns cut in thirds

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9X13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Warm the meatballs in the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Separate the dinner rolls or hot dog buns and place one saucy meatball on the bottom roll. Top with mozzarella or provolone. Place the top roll on and push down slightly. Place meatball slider in the pan and continue to assemble the rest of the sliders.

Microwave butter in a bowl in the microwave until melted. Add garlic powder and Italian seasonings and mix well. Brush tops of buns with melted butter mixture.

Toast in oven for 8-10 minutes or until toasted.

Serve with warmed marinara for dipping.

What did the family think? YUMMO!

Did I change anything? I microwaved the meatballs because I was in a hurry and then I put them in the sauce.

Where did this recipe come from? The Girl Who Ate Everything

photo from Make Me Vintage

Leave a Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Sandwich, Super Easy to Make

The Best Chicken Parmesan I’ve Ever Made

I have made this twice now and it so good…all of the yummy goodness of sauce and cheese coming together all at the same time.

Ingredients:
4 oz breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 egg whites
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
Olive oil cooking spray
1 jar marinara sauce (about 3 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl, toss the bread crumbs with oregano, garlic powder, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and milk together.

In a third bowl stir together the flour, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Dip each piece of chicken, 1 piece at a time, in flour, shaking off excess, then egg, then bread crumbs, shaking off excess.

Place breaded chicken in a glass baking dish and spray on each side with cooking spray. Bake until cooked though and crumbs are browned, about 15 minutes. Top with marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbling.

We have this with pasta on the side and then a salad and maybe some fruit.

What did the family think? I think this is probably our favorite new dish. I have another chicken parmesan recipe that is good, but not as good as this one. We LOVE this one!

Did I change anything? The original recipe called for 4 teaspoons of paprika. That’s a LOT of paprika. I have made it once with no paprika and once with 2 teaspoons of paprika. I think one should be enough.

Where did this recipe come from? Food Network

I also love this recipe because it gives me an excuse to use my Creuset bakeware. 🙂

Leave a Comment

Filed under Chicken, Definitely Making it Again, Italian

Pasta Sauce with Bacon

This is for all of you bacon lovers out there. We had this tonight and I have to say I liked it very much. The bacon gives it a smoky, kind of Tuscan farmhouse, type of taste. (No, I have never been in a Tuscan farmhouse nor have I ever been to Tuscany, but I imagine that when you go there you get to eat lots of yummy food and this just might be on the menu.)

Ingredients:
4 slices of thick bacon, chopped (you can add more less, it’s up to you)
1/4 medium onion, diced
26 oz. jar pasta sauce (I used the garlicky kind.)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tspn cayenne pepper
Parmesan, to taste

Instructions:
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the bacon, onions and garlic.

Drain the fat from the skillet.

Keep the bacon/garlic/onion mixture in the skillet and add the pasta sauce and the cayenne.

Heat through.

Serve over pasta. Add Parmesan.

What did the family think? Hubby and I were the only ones who ate this. Hubby said it was fine, but he would have rather had meatballs. I thought it was super tasty.

Where did this recipe come from? Food.com

1 Comment

Filed under Easy, Italian, Pork, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

Tuna and Noodles with Basil Pasta Sauce

My kids love tuna noodle casserole so I thought they might like this too. It doesn’t scream “tuna” (as my kids would never consider eating a tuna salad sandwich) but they are still getting the protein and it doesn’t taste too fishy.

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 28-ounce can of tomatoes, crushed (with or without basil)
Salt, to taste
1 pound pasta shells
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 6-ounce can tuna (may want to use 2 cans depending on your family’s fish likes/dilikes)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped or torn
A generous 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Melt the butter in a medium pot on medium heat and add the can of tomatoes, including the juice.

Simmer gently, partially covered, for about 15-20 minutes.

Once the sauce is cooking, heat a large pot of well salted water to a strong boil. Add the shell pasta to the boiling water and cook at a vigorous boil, uncovered, until al dente, cooked through but still a bit firm to the bite, which is usually whatever the time specified on the pasta package minus about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Pour off the excess oil/water from the tuna can and stir the tuna into the tomato sauce. Add the ricotta cheese, and add salt to taste. Turn off the heat. Mix the sauce with the pasta in a large bowl. Mix in the basil.

Pour the pasta into a 2 to 3-quart casserole dish and top with the parmesan cheese. Put under a hot broiler for 4-6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot.

What did the family think? Our youngest was at a birthday party eating pizza and cake, but the rest of us had this and liked it.

Where did this recipe come from? Simply Recipes

Leave a Comment

Filed under Easy, Everybody Ate It, Fish, Italian, Lent

Baked Breaded Shrimp

Every Sunday night in our house is fish night. The problem with this is that our boys aren’t huge fish fans and they especially don’t like salmon which is what we normally have on Sundays. I don’t want to fix two separate meals, but I do want them to at least be eating something that comes from the sea since we are having fish. I also don’t want them eating something that comes from a box. These little tasty shrimp were the solution.

Ingredients:
1 large egg
2 tbsps milk
1/3 cup bread crumbs (seasoned or plain)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
1 lb shrimp (peeled deveined medium)
Cooking spray

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.

In a separate small bowl, combine the bread crumbs and cheese.

Dip each shrimp in egg mixture and then coat with bread crumb mixture.

Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Spray shrimp with cooking spray.

Bake shrimp for 7 to 9 minutes or until shrimp are pink and no longer translucent.

What did the family think? They loved them and were disappointed that I hadn’t made more.

Where did this recipe come from? Yummly

photo from FoodBuzz

1 Comment

Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Everybody Ate It, Fish, Italian, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less

Lite Alfredo Sauce (with some sneaky cauliflower)

This is not the super rich alfredo sauce you might get at your favorite Italian restaurant. This version is light and has lots of cauliflower in it. If you are trying to get more veggies into your kids (or yourself) and you are a pasta eating family like we are, then this dish might be right up your alley.

Ingredients:
For the topping:
1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
1/3 grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

For the pasta:
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large head cauliflower, cored, cut in large pieces (or use frozen cauliflower)
water to cover (about 4 cups)
1/2 tsp dried Italian herb blend
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14-oz box spaghetti, cooked and drained (I used GF rice fettucine noodles)
1/2 lemon, juiced

Instructions:
Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 tbsp olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is well toasted, and golden-brown. Stir in the thyme; remove from heat, and reserve.

In a medium saucepan, warm the garlic cloves in the olive oil over low heat for a few minutes, or until the cloves begin to bubble. Add the cauliflower, enough water to cover, dried herbs, pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until the cauliflower is soft.

Turn off the heat. Use a stick blender (or standard blender) to puree the mixture into a smooth sauce. If it seems too thick add a little water or broth, if it’s too thin simply simmer until it reduces and thickens up. Then, stir in the cream, and add the Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Cover and reserve.

Boil the spaghetti according to directions and drain well. Return to the pot, add the lemon juice, and pour over the cauliflower sauce. Toss to coat the pasta. Divide into four pasta bowls and serve hot topped with the toasted Parmesan breadcrumbs.

We had this with meatballs and some strawberries on the side.

What did the family think? Everyone LOVED it! Seriously, that doesn’t happen very often so I was super happy.

Where did this recipe come from? American Food

photo from iFood

1 Comment

Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Lent, Not so Easy, Vegetarian

Italian Cream Cheese Tortellini Bake

This was a HUGE hit in our house last night and (bonus!) it makes a lot of pasta, so there are plenty of leftovers to go in lunch boxes for the next day or two.

Ingredients:
4 cups tortellini, uncooked
1 pound Italian bulk sausage, cooked
40 ounces pasta sauce
3/4 cup Philadelphia Italian Herb and Cheese Cooking Creme
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh basil, optional

Instructions:
Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain pasta when finished cooking.

Add cooked sausage to pasta sauce; simmer on medium heat 2 min., stirring frequently until heated through. Remove from heat.

Whisk cream cheese spread, milk and Parmesan in large bowl until well blended. Add pasta and basil; stir gently until pasta is evenly coated.

Spread half the meat sauce onto bottom of a greased casserole dish. Cover with pasta mixture and remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes minutes.

We had this with a green salad and some grapes.

What did the family think? Everyone loved it and had seconds. Our youngest said he liked it so much that he was going to have 100ths.

Where did this recipe come from? It was adapted from a recipe at Once a Month Mom

photo from Michelle’s Tasty Creations

Leave a Comment

Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian