Meatball Subs

This was a huge hit but hard to eat hahahah 

Ingredients:

Sauce

1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1-2 tablespoons sugar (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
about 1″-2″ cube of hard, dry Parmesan cheese (optional)
kosher salt to taste

Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 pound spicy Italian pork sausage
2 1/2 tablespoons dehydrated onion
1/4 cup minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley, plus more for garnish
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
12 ounces ricotta cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 cup Italian-seasoned panko bread crumbs
Provolone or mozzarella cheese
Slider rolls (sweet Hawaiian rolls are amazing), baguette, or hoagie rolls

Instructions:

To make the sauce, heat the olive oil a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the chopped garlic and onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, parsley, thyme, Italian seasoning, sugar, baking soda, red pepper flakes, and the Parmesan cheese rind (if using). Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low and cover, stirring occasionally (you’ll just let it simmer until the meatballs are ready; if, for whatever reason, the meatballs are ready when you put the sauce together, you’ll want it to simmer for about 20-30 minutes before adding the meatballs).

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. Heat your oven to 425.

To make the meatballs, combine all the ingredients except for the provolone/mozzarella and the rolls. Using a tablespoon measuring spoon or cookie scoop, scoop the meat mixture out by heaping tablespoons-full and form them into meatballs. Place the uncooked meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until browned (they will not be cooked through). Remove from the oven and transfer the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.

To serve, place the meatballs on your bread of choice. Top with sauce, Parmesan (the powdery stuff in the green can is actually kind of amazing right here, right now), mozzarella or provolone, and chopped fresh Italian parsley. Makes…a lot. Probably in the neighborhood of 40 meatballs.

Lasagna Cups

This was easy enough for the boys to make and it actually tasted AMAZING!!!  Great time saver of lasagna but still enjoying the taste!!

Depending on your appetite, figure 2-4 cups per person for a hearty dinner.

Ingredients:

Won ton wrappers

Cooking spray

Tomato sauce

Ricotta cheese

Parmesan cheese

Italian seasoning

Simply spray the cupcake pan with Pam & place one won ton wrap in each cup.

Next layer sauce & cheeses, then repeat.

Sprinkle with Italian seasonings & bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes & pop out with a knife. 

Spaghetti Bake

Ross LOVES spaghetti...and I like it, but never really am in the mood for it.....but THIS - I would eat this every single day!!  This was soooooo yummy!!!!  Such a fun twist of your typical spaghetti!  DO IT UP!

Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

8 oz of cream cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 lb cottage cheese

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 pkg spaghetti 16 oz

Grated cheddar cheese

Preheat your oven to 350°. Boil your spaghetti noodles until al dente (firm).  Drain and set aside until ready to assemble.

Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese until well blended.

Brown  your hamburger and when done, drain well.  Combine the hamburger with your spaghetti sauce.  Ready for assembly?

Put a few slices of butter into a 9×13 pan then pour half of your spaghetti noodles on top.  Take your cream cheese mixture and pour on top of the noodles. Spread well over noodles.  Pour the rest of the noodles on top of the cream cheese mixture.  Put a few more slices of butter on top of the noodles.  Pour your spaghetti and meat sauce on top of your noodles.

Now it is ready to put into the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pour the desired amount of grated cheese on top and return to the oven for 15 minutes to allow cheese to melt

Italian Chicken Roll-Ups

Ahhhh I haven't cooked a new meal in forever!!!  It was the first time since I've had my blog that I almost missed a month with a new recipe, so I snuck a couple in at the last second :)  Guess that's what happens when you sell your house and have to pack up all your kitchen stuff!!  We are living with the parents now, so figured I would pay them back for their hospitality with some home cooking!

This was soooo good!!  It was really easy to prep too - and then you can relax (or get dinner ready for your baby!) while you wait for it to bake!!  Awesome!!!

Serves 6 : Recipe OBB

Ingredients:

3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup spinach leaves
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Garlic Bread Seasoning
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Pizza Sauce (or your favorite marinara sauce)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together the ricotta cheese and garlic bread seasoning and set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Place a chicken breast flat on a plastic cutting board and cover the entire board with a piece of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken breast with a meat mallet until it’s about 1/4″ thick (it will have spread considerably). Cut the pounded chicken breast in half. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.

Line a chicken breast with spinach leaves. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture over the spinach leaves, leaving about a 1/2″ margin from each edge, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Starting at on one end, carefully roll up each chicken breast and secure with 2 toothpicks. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.

Roll each stuffed chicken breast in melted butter, then roll in the Italian seasoned bread crumbs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven or until the chicken is cooked through. If you want to brown the tops a little, turn on the low broiler for 1-2 minutes (be sure to  keep an eye on it–burning things at this point would be very sad).

Make up your pizza sauce for dipping while you wait!

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

We had the rents over for dinner tonight; it was about time we made something for them!!  This was awesome - pretty much lasagna minus the lasagna noodles AND it didn't take as long as lasagna does to make!!  Yummy :)

Ingredients:
1 1/4  pound Ground Chuck
1 can (15oz) Tomato Sauce
1/2 teaspoon Salt
 Freshly Ground Black Pepper
8oz Egg Noodles
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 1/4 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)
1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground chuck in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients. 

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside. 

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir. 

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted

Bucca Di Beppo Spicy Chicken Rigatoni

HOT HOT HOT!!  This was soooo spicy.  It was really yummy, but for people that don't like spice - don't put a lot of red pepper flakes (or I should say, put the amount the recipe calls for...we added "more" than it called for).  This was yummy - and really did taste like Buca's!

6 Sisters Blog

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups Alfredo sauce (I just used a jar of store bought sauce)
2 cups marinara sauce (I just used a jar of store bought sauce)
1/2 cup cooked peas
1 lb (16 oz) rigatoni noodles, cooked al dente
2 tablespoons butter
Sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese and a pinch of red pepper flake for garnish.

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, heat two tablespoons olive oil. Saute garlic, red pepper flakes, and coarse black pepper for 2-3 minutes. Add in thin strips of chicken breast, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until chicken is cooked through. This should only take a few minutes because the chicken is cut thin.

Add in marinara sauce and stir. Add in Alfredo sauce. Let the sauces simmer for about 10 minutes.  To the sauce/chicken, add two tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup peas. Stir until the butter melts.

Combine chicken/sauce mixture with cooked pasta. Garnish with fresh Parmesan cheese, and a pinch or two of red pepper flakes.

Cheesy Grilled Pizza Sandwiches

Made up some yumminess tonight!  This was super quick and easy too - and that was making my own pizza sauce and garlic seasoning!!  Do it up!  So good!

Ingredients
rustic style sandwich bread
butter or olive oil
pizza sauce
garlic bread seasoning
pepperoni or turkey pepperoni
Mozzarella cheese

Lightly butter one side of each slice of bread, or brush lightly with olive oil.  Sprinkle garlic bread seasoning on each slice and gently pat on with clean hands.  Turn slices of bread over.  Spread pizza sauce on each slice and sprinkle with cheese.  Place pepperoni slices on one of the sandwich halves and then place the two pieces of bread together.

Grill on a panini press or hot skillet, or place under a broiler in the oven, flipping once, until both sides of bread are toasted and golden brown and cheese is melted.  Cool for 3-5 minutes before slicing in half and serve.

Stromboli Sandwiches

We brought dinner over to the Sodahls today, and figured we would try out a new recipe.  Wasn't sure what "Stromboli sandwiches" were - but they are very Italian and very good!  A little messy - but yummy in your tummy!!  We made this meal even more delicious by having Cheesy Potatoes as the side!

Recipe a day calendar

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 tablespoon onion, chopped
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon oregano
Mozzarella cheese slices
6 kaiser rolls

Preheat oven to 350.

Brown beef and onions.  Drain - add tomato sauce, ketchup, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and oregano.  Cook for 10 minutes.

Split buns and spread mixture over.  Layer with mozzarella cheese.  Wrap each in aluminum foil - and bake for 15 minutes.