Stuffed Shells

24 jumbo pasta shells (about 8 oz.)

1/2 Tbs cooking oil

1/2 lb ground beef

1/2 yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

24 oz. marinara sauce

2 Tbs tomato paste

1 tsp Italian seasonings

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp pepper

1.5 c shredded mozzarella

Cheese filling:

15 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1/2 grated Parmesan

1/4 c fresh chopped parsley

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350℉.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the jumbo shells.  Cook the shells just until they're al dente, making sure not to overcook them.  (The longer they're cooked, the more likely they are to tear when you stuff them.)  Drain the shells in a colander and rinse briefly with cold water and set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil.  Brown the hamburger and drain any excess fat.  Then add the onions and garlic and sauté over medium heat until the onion is translucent.  Add the marinara sauce, tomato paste and seasonings, stir to combine.  Reduce heat to medium-low and allow sauce to simmer, 3-5 minutes.  

While the sauce is simmering, mix together your cheese filling in a medium bowl.  

Layer half of the beef sauce in a casserole dish.  Then stuff each shell with about 1-2 Tbs of the cheese mixture and place in the casserole dish.  Pour remaining beef sauce over the shells, and then sprinkle with 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.  

Loosely place some tented aluminum foil over the casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for 5-10 more minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

From Budget Bytes

Pumpkin Pancakes

Pancakes

3/4 c flour

3/4 c whole wheat flour

1/4 c brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

3/4 tsp ground ginger

1 1/2 c buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbs canola oil

2 eggs

2/3 c pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
4 oz. cream cheese

1/4 c powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c whipping cream, whipped until medium peaks form

maple syrup for drizzling

Prepare whipped cream by beating cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.  Take 1/2 of the whipped cream (that you already whipped) and beat it in until smooth.  Add the rest of the whipped cream and use a spatula to gently fold in (do not beat).  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Prepare pancakes.  Whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.  Make sure to break up any clumps of brown sugar.  In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vanilla, oil, eggs, and pumpkin.  Combine wet ingredients with dry and gently combine until mixed.  Do not overmix.

Heat a nonstick griddle to medium heat.  When hot, use butter or nonstick spray to coat the pan.  Drop 1/4 c batter to form each pancake and cook until edges set (if you wait until they bubble, it might be just a bit too long).  Flip pancakes and cook remaining side.

Serve warm pancakes with a dollop of cream cheese topping and a drizzle of maple syrup.

From Our Best Bites

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

1 c butter, softened to room temperature

3/4 c sugar (159 g)

3/4 g packed light brown sugar (159 g)

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 c flour (320 g)

2/3 c natural unsweetened cocoa (57 g) (not special dark, or see original recipe for notes)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

10 oz. bag peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350℉.  Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper, lightly grease and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugars until light and creamy, 1-2 minutes.

Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. 

In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt (sifting it will get rid of those cocoa lumps).  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix until combined and no dry streaks remain.  Add the peanut butter chips and mix until combined.

Scoop the cookie dough into 2-Tbs portions and roll into balls.  Place several inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.  Bake for 10-11 minutes until the cookies are just set around the edges and slightly crackly on top.  Don't overbake!  Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Olive Oil Cake

3/4 c sugar (160 g)

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 Tbs fresh lemon zest

2/3 c extra virgin olive oil (135 g)

1/2 c sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), room temperature (113 g)

1/4 c milk (not skim), room temperature (62 g)

2 Tbs fresh lemon juice

1 1/3 c flour (190 g)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Optional:

Powdered sugar, for dusting; berries to look pretty, whipped cream because it's fun

Preheat oven to 350℉, line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment, lightly grease bottom and sides, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, eggs, lemon zest and beat with an electric mixer until thick and light in color, 2-3 minutes (don't skimp on the time!).  Add olive oil, sour cream, milk, and lemon juice.  Mix until well combined.  Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Mix until the batter is combined and no dry streaks remain.

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top of the cake springs back lightly to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.  Let the cake cool in the pan for 5-7 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack or (non-plastic) serving plate.  Let cool completely.

Dust the top of the cake lightly with powdered sugar right before serving.

From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Creamy Dijon Chicken

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast (thawed)

1 tsp Italian seasonings

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 c chicken broth

1 Tbs Dijon mustard

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/3 c heavy cream

2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese

2 c spinach

Mashed potatoes or some other favorite carb

In a small bowl, mix together the seasonings for the chicken (Italian seasonings, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper).  Carefully filet each chicken breast into two thinner cutlets.  Season each breast with seasonings on both sides.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.  Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through (about four minutes per side).  Remove the cooked chicken to a clean plate and cover to keep warm.

To the same skillet add the butter and minced garlic.  Turn the heat down to medium-low and sauté the garlic for one minute until fragrant.  Then add the chicken broth into the skillet and add the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce (I find it helpful to whisk it all so the mustard really gets combined with everything).  Stir together and scrape the bottom of the pan to add in any brown bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir well.  Allow the sauce to simmer for five minutes (taste and add salt and pepper if desired).  Add in the fresh spinach and stir into the sauce, allowing the heat to wilt the spinach.  Finally, return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the Dijon sauce over the top.  Allow the chicken to heat through, serve with your favorite side dish and enjoy!  

From Budget Bites

Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet

4 fully cooked chicken sausage links (about 12 oz.)

2 Tbs cooking oil, divided

1 small yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans, drained (but NOT rinsed)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper

1 c chicken broth

2 c spinach, rough chopped

Some sort of starch: crusty bread, mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice

Slice the chicken sausage into round medallions, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 Tbs of oil.  Add the chicken sausage to the skillet and brown on both sides.  It will only take about 1-2 minutes on each side.  So be careful not to burn the sausage.  Once the chicken sausage is browned, remove it from the skillet onto a separate plate and set aside.

In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 Tbs of oil along with the diced onion and minced garlic.  Saute for about 3 minutes or until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.

Add the drained, canned beans to the skillet (do not rinse the beans, the residual starchy liquid helps create the sauce), along with the salt, oregano, paprika, and pepper.  Then pour in the chicken broth.

Gently stir everything together and bring the skillet up to a simmer for 4-5 minutes.  Add the chopped spinach to the skillet, allowing the heat to wilt the spinach, then add the browned chicken sausage back in.  Gently stir with the beans to combine.  Serve with some crusty bread or mashed potatoes with more black pepper or red pepper flakes on top.  

From Budge Bytes

Tortellini Salad

9 oz. package cheese tortellini

8 oz. package fresh mozzarella balls or pearls

10 oz. package bite-size tomatoes

Two heads of broccoli, chopped small

3 oz. package pepperoni

1/4 c Italian dressing (get a good one for this)

1/4 c pesto

Chop the broccoli and boil water to cook tortellini according to package directions.  Do NOT overcook tortellini!  Place chopped broccoli in the colander and drain pasta over it to blanch the broccoli.  Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.  Mix in a large bowl with mozzarella, tomatoes, and pepperoni.  In a small bowl (or jar) combine the Italian dressing and pesto, then pour over salad and toss again to mix.

Modified from Our Best Bites