MY SLIGHTLY SWEET MARINARA SAUCE

My slightly sweet Marinara sauce is a blend of a friend's, and my own twists...

INGREDIENTS

2 T. virgin olive oil

1/4 c. finely chopped onion

2 tsp minced garlic

1.5 T. Italian seasoning

1.5 T. dried parsley

2.5 T. light brown sugar

2 T. sugar

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

heat oil

saute onions, seasonings and sugars, then add tomatoes

...and simmer

 ENJOY! ENJOY!

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Caprese Fresh Basil Lasagna Roll-ups

Caprese (pronounced ka-pra-zi) means Italian dishes made with FRESH tomatoes, FRESH basil and Mozzarella. 

This dish is awesome, especially if you grow your own herb garden. Food ALWAYS tastes better when you grow it all by yourself!!

INGREDIENTS

10 lasagna noodles cooked al dente

1 3/4 c. Ricotta

14oz shredded mozzarella

1 egg

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped small

1 tsp ground black pepper

4-5 tomatoes sliced thin(preferably Roma)

1.5 -2 cups Marinara sauce

1/2 cup grated Parmesan OR more mozzarella for on top

Cook noodles al dente and put aside.

Mix in a bowl: ricotta, mozzarella, egg, Italian seasoning and pepper.

Spread cheese mixture onto noodles, then sprinkle on fresh basil and place tomatoes...then roll

Place "rolls" into baking dish that is coated with a bit of sauce or oil. Drizzle but don't drown, the rolls in Marinara sauce. 

Bake 45 minutes on 350 degrees. 

Ten minutes before finish, sprinkle with mozzarella or grated parmesan.

ENJOY! ENJOY!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY RECIPE ANYWHERE AND WITH WHOM YOU WANT TO>>LIKE ART< RECIPES AND GREAT FOOD ARE NOTHING UNLESS SHARED WITH OTHERS...to pin to Pinterest, click the picture and hit your "pin-it" button :-)

No-Baked Herb Golden Beans

A quick and delicious baked bean recipe I invented...without the baking...

This recipe is for one 16oz can of beans. Increase recipe by the can...

INGREDIENTS

6 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

4 scallions chopped

1 large fresh Basil leaf chopped

3" fresh Thyme chopped

1-2 large 1' or greater Rosemary leaves chopped

1 med. tomato chopped small

1 16oz can Navy Beans

1/2c. ketsup

2 T. yellow mustard

1 heaping T. Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce

Fry bacon and crumble

put aside

saute scallions, tomatoes, basil, rosemary and thyme in butter

continue cooking on very low

add beans

add ketsup, mustard, and barbecue sauce

simmer...

Pour into baking dish, sprinkle with crumbled bacon, heat at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

ENJOY! ENJOY!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY RECIPE ANYWHERE AND WITH WHOM YOU WANT TO>>LIKE ART< RECIPES AND GREAT FOOD ARE NOTHING UNLESS SHARED WITH OTHERS...to pin to Pinterest, click the picture and hit your "pin-it" button :-)

RED SUNSET CHICKEN over RICE

Today the artist in me came out in the kitchen. But rather than canvas and paint, my canvas was my pots and pans and my colors were the food. It was one of those times I thought, "What am I going to make that's different, and with these little bit of odd ingredients?"

I invented Red Sunset Chicken over Rice!

The veggies I had seemed like they may not really go together, but turns out they mixed wonderfully!

INGREDIENTS

2 large carrots shaved into 1  1/2" lengths

1 small to medium red beet julienned

1 medium white onion chopped small

1 can yellow corn drained

1  1/2 sticks real butter

 1  1/2 lb. skinless boneless chicken cut in strips

seasoned salt and Italian seasoning for chicken

2 c. white minute rice

2  1/4 c. water

4 chicken bouillon cubes

1 T. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. black pepper

Start by melting 3/4 stick of butter in a 5 qt. pot. Add the carrots, beets, onions and corn. Saute on medium low heat until tender. Stir frequently. This takes a total of about 1/2 hour.

As it slowly cooks, the color from the beets will overspread, turning everything a variety of red and orange colors.

In a large skillet, melt 3/4 stick of butter. Add the chicken, season with seasoned salt and Italian seasoning. Saute until done.

Remove the chicken and add it to the veggie combo. Stir together gently.

Add 2  1/4 c. water to the pan the chicken cooked in.
Do not rinse the pan first. Add the 4 chicken bouillon cubes, 1 T. Italian seasoning, 1 tsp. seasoned salt and 1 tsp. black pepper. Bring to boil while continuously stirring to dissolve cubes. Remove from heat. Add 2 c. white Minute Rice and cover tightly. 

Serve the chicken mixture over the rice when all liquid is absorbed.
Serves 4-5 people.

ENJOY! ENJOY!

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FETTUCINE TUNA PASTA SALAD

I just threw together this "invention" and it turned out to be a HIT!

Ingredients

1 1/2 green pepper chopped in 1/8 to 1/4 inch chunks

2 medium onions chopped same as above

3 stalks celery chopped same as above

2 large tomatoes chopped same as above

salt and pepper to taste

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

one lb. Fettucine cooked and rinsed to very cold temp.

4 -6 HEAPING T. Mayonaise

3 HEAPING T. brown mustard

2-3 cans tuna in water(according to taste), drained

Paprika

Chop all your veggies, put in large mixing bowl.

Mix in S&P and Italian seasoning.

Add cold, cooked Fettucine.

Thoroughly mix in mayo and mustard.

Add tuna. Mix well.

Sprinkle with S&P and Paprika.

ENJOY ENJOY!!

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Christopher's Creamy Carrot and Potato Soup

Christopher's Creamy Carrot

and Potato Soup

When my now grown son Chris was in preschool, they were to print a recipe book based on the children and their parents' favorite recipes. Unfortunately it never became reality, but Chris, then age 4, and I, created a soup that has remained a family favorite.

As the cold weather approaches, this soup is sure to please.

Ingredients

(in the pictures I used my usual huge stock pot and doubled the ingredients...with these ingredients a pot a tad bigger than a Dutch Oven size will do)

5 c. chopped potatoes skins on

2 c. thin sliced celery

5 c. sliced carrots

1 1/2-2c. sliced onion

4 Tbl. flour

4 c. water

6 Tbl. softened butter

3 lb. ground beef cooked and drained

6 c. hot milk

S&P to taste

Prepare your potatoes, carrots, celery and onion, cover with water, and cook until tender. While doing that cook and drain the hamburger. When the veggies are getting tender, add the meat to the mixture and continue simmering.

Blend the butter and flour thoroughly. Then slowly add hot milk and continue stirring. Finally, add to the soup and as always when thickening something, stir very very frequently.

Continue simmering, season with S&P if desired. 

ENJOY ENJOY!!!!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY RECIPE ANYWHERE AND WITH WHOM YOU WANT TO>>LIKE ART< RECIPES AND GREAT FOOD ARE NOTHING UNLESS SHARED WITH OTHERS...to pin to Pinterest, click the picture and hit your "pin-it" button :-)

Chicken Carrot Cacciatore over Noodles

Tangy with a hint of "hot," this is my Chicken Carrot Cacciatore over Noodles...

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast

Salt & Pepper

2 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 stalk Celery in 1/2" slices

3 large Carrots in 1/2" slices

2 med. Onions sliced semi-small

2 sixteen oz. cans diced tomatoes

1 four oz. can sliced mushrooms

4 tsp. minced garlic

4 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. ground red pepper

1 four oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 c. chicken broth

Egg Noodles

Place your sliced carrots and celery in a dutch oven size pot with just enough water to cover, bring to boiling, then simmer.

Saute your chicken pieces (best cut into strips) in the olive oil until done. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.

When the carrots are beginning to get slightly tender, add the sliced onions and continue cooking.

While waiting for the veggies to finish cooking, in a mixing bowl, place the diced tomatoes, mushrooms,minced garlic, parsley, ground red pepper, and tomato sauce. Mix thoroughly.

Drain the cooked veggies and return to pot. Add the tomato mixture, stir, and mix in the cup of broth.

Next add your cooked chicken, stir again well, and continue to simmer about another 20 minutes.

Serve over noodles.

ENJOY ENJOY!!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY RECIPE ANYWHERE AND WITH WHOM YOU WANT TO>>LIKE ART< RECIPES AND GREAT FOOD ARE NOTHING UNLESS SHARED WITH OTHERS...to pin to Pinterest, click the picture and hit your "pin-it" button :-)