Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes

Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes

• 1 pound frozen or shelf-stable gnocchi
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 9 ounces cooked chicken sausage (about 3 links) , sliced into 1/4-inch-thick coins
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
• 1 to 2 ounces fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced (1/2 to 1 cup loosely packed)
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1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi and cook for 2 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil.

2. Heat a 10-inch or larger cast iron skillet over medium heat with a light drizzle of olive oil. Add the sausages and cook until it begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Push the sausages into a pile at the edge of the skillet and turn the heat up to high.

3. When the skillet is quite hot, add the tomatoes, skin down, crowding them in if necessary. Cook until they are blistered, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the sausage and cook until both tomatoes and sausage are slightly browned, about 2 minutes more. Stir in gnocchi and cook just until all is combined, but the tomatoes have not broken down into sauce.

4. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Easy Lasagna

Easy Lasagna

1 lb ground beef or italian sausage (just depends on preference)
28 oz tomato sauce
16 oz ricotta
8 oz mozzarella
7 lasagna noodles

Combine beef/sausage with tomato sauce and add dried minced garlic, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper and salt to taste.  Layer in 9X9 pan from bottom to top: sauce, noodles (you'll have to break them to fit, use extra pieces to fill in), sauce, ricotta, mozzarella.  Repeat twice.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Cover with foil halfway through to prevent cheese from burning.

Marina Sauce with Pasta

1/2 lb. bacon, cut up
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
1 green pepper, chopped
4 medium mushrooms, quartered and thinly sliced
28 oz Italian tomatoes, drained
pasta of choice, cooked and drained

Saute bacon.  Add onion and garlic, saute.  Add zucchini, pepper, mushrooms, saute.  Add tomatoes, heat through.  Serve over hot pasta.

Stuffed Manicotti

Stuffed Manicotti

14 manicotti tubes

14 sticks mozzarella cheese (string cheese)

1 lb hamburger

1/2 C shredded parmesan cheese

4 Tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

28 oz Italian tomatoes

8 oz tomato sauce

Saute olive oil, onion and garlic. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce. Keep sauce warm. Brown hamburger and add to marinara sauce. In the meantime, cook manicotti tubes in pot of boiling water for six minutes. Grease 11X7 baking dish. Drain pasta well, then rinse under cold water and drain again. Insert a mozzarella stick into each tube. Arrange the filled pasta in the prepared baking dish. Pour marinara sauce over top. Sprinkle with half the parmesan cheese. Baked for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with remaining parmesan.

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan


1 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
1 egg, beaten
2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
3 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
1/2 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon dried basil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side. In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Chicken Bruschetta

Chicken Bruschetta


4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 C. mushrooms, sliced
5 garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp. salt
½ C. red onion, chopped
1 tsp. dried basil leaves (I used fresh)
4 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 med. tomatoes, chopped
¼ C. shredded Parmesan cheese

Spray broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken with garlic powder; ¼ tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper; place on broiler pan. Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 6-8 minutes on each side. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add mushrooms, garlic, and ¼ tsp. salt; cook 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onion, basil, vinegar, and ground pepper; cook 30-45 seconds. Add tomatoes; toss; remove from heat. Arrange chicken on plates; sprinkle with half of the cheese; top with mushroom mixture; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Toscana Soup

Toscana Soup (Olive Garden)


1 lb ground Italian sausage
1½ tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
¼ of a bunch of kale


Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft. Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve.


Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo Sauce


Ingredients:


1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup cream cheese
3/4 cup half-and-half
1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste
lemon pepper to taste


Combine the butter, cream cheese, and half and half in a saucepan. Season with garlic salt and lemon pepper. Bring to a low boil over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened slightly. Serve over 12 ounces of cooked pasta.