Jalapeno Popper Pizza with Focaccia Crust is a unique and delicious pizza. Hands down, pizza is my favorite food. Usually, I don’t like pizzas without tomato sauce, but this one has a really yummy cream cheese topping that doesn’t leave me miss the tomato sauce …
Croque-Madame Gruyere Melts are one of my favorite sandwiches. I begin these sandwiches by making a luscious cheese sauce. Then, I add ham and shredded Gruyere cheese to sourdough bread and fry the sandwiches until they’re golden brown. Next, I fry eggs, and place one …
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta with Peppers and Mushrooms is a delicious and easy dinner. I begin this meal by making a fresh homemade marinara sauce. Then, I mix the sauce with farfalle pasta, pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese. Finally, I add lots of mozzarella cheese and more pepperoni. All together, these components create a fantastic family meal. And, perhaps best of all, this whole dish takes less than an hour from start to finish.
The Equipment I Used
A Dutch Oven- I like to make my marinara sauce in my Dutch oven, but you can use any four or five quart pot.
A Casserole Dish- Bake this in a casserole dish about 13×9 inches. I like to use my ceramic LeCreuset oval baker.
The Ingredients Needed for Pepperoni Pizza Pasta with Peppers and Mushrooms
Bell Peppers- You can use red or green peppers, or a mixture of both.
Garlic- I like to buy the prepeeled garlic cloves and keep them in the freezer.
Pomi Strained Tomatoes- These come in a box, and I like them because they have no added sugar, salt, or citric acid. But, you can use any tomato puree that you like.
Chicken Stock- I always use my homemade chicken stock. The recipe is below.
Farfalle Pasta- Feel free to use any pasta shape that you like. Rotini would be a really good choice.
Fresh Herbs- The basil, oregano, and parsley add lots of great fresh flavor.
Mozzarella Cheese- I like Polly-o Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese.
Pepperoni- Buy the best quality pepperoni you can find. I use a stick pepperoni, that my market sliced in their deli.
How I Made my Pepperoni Pasta
First, I make the marinara sauce. It’s important to watch the vegetables to make sure they don’t burn.
Next, I boil my pasta. It’s important to not overcook your pasta.
Finally, I mix together the noodles, sauce, Parmesan and pepperoni. And, then I top that with mozzarella cheese and more pepperoni.
If you love pepperoni pizza, you must try this quick and easy Pepperoni Pizza Pasta with Peppers and Mushrooms.
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta with Peppers and Mushrooms
Bowtie pasta in a homemade marinara sauce filled with peppers and mushrooms, mixed with pepperoni and Parmesan, and topped with mozzarella and more pepperoni.
½cup eachchopped onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms
2tbsp.extra virgin olive oil
2tbsp.minced garlic
26ouncesPomi strained tomatoes or any tomato puree
¼tsp. eachkosher salt and red pepper flakes
½cupchicken stock
1tsp.sugar
1poundbowtie pasta
2tbsp. eachfresh basil, parsley, and oregano
1cupgrated Parmesan cheese
2cupssmall pepperoni slices
4ounceswhole milk mozzarella, shredded
Instructions
Begin by making the marinara sauce: In a Dutch oven, over medium heat, add the oil, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook for about five minutes, or until the onions soften slightly.
Add the strained tomatoes, chicken stock, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for thirty minutes. Then, stir in the fresh herbs.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the noodles, according to the directions on the box for al dente pasta. Drain the noodles and add them to the marinara sauce, along with the Parmesan cheese and a cup of the pepperoni. Place this in a large 13×9 casserole. Top the pasta with the mozzarella cheese and the rest of the pepperoni. Bake for about ten minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with additional basil leaves and red pepper flakes.
Creamy Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Peas features homemade gnocchi. Of course, feel free to use purchased premade gnocchi to save time. But, these gnocchi are not only delicious but foolproof. After I make the gnocchi, I make a sauce filled with wine, cream, and chicken …
Bite-Size Pizzette Topped with Manchego and Chorizo are tiny appetizer pizzas. This recipe is easy, but there are several steps. First, I use my bread machine to make the pizza dough. Next, while the dough rises, I make a simple pizza sauce. Then, I form …
Sausage Minestrone with Cheesy Toasts is a delicious hearty soup. I like to serve this soup with a big salad, or a simple pasta dish. I start my minestrone by cooking the sausage in my Dutch oven. Next, I add leeks, carrots, celery, garlic and cabbage. Then, I add chickpeas and chicken stock and cook for a few more minutes. Finally, I top each bowl of soup with mozzarella cheese toasts. And, I also sprinkle the bowls with minced parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and lots of Parmesan cheese. All in all, this is a rich and satisfying soup.
The Equipment I Used
A Dutch Oven- I love to make all my soups and stews in my LeCreuset and Staub Dutch ovens.
An Air Fryer (optional)- I sometimes use my air fryer to toast the bread and cheese.
The Ingredients Needed for Sausage Minestrone with Cheesy Toasts
Italian sausage- I used sweet Italian sausage, but you could also use spicy Italian sausage.
Leeks- Leeks add a great flavor to this soup, but you could also use onions.
Carrots- Try and cut the carrots thinly, so that they cook quickly.
Cabbage- I used savoy cabbage, but regular white cabbage is fine, too.
Garlic- I like to buy the peeled cloves and store them in my freezer.
Chicken Stock- I always use my homemade stock. The recipe is below.
Chickpeas- I like to cook dry beans, and then store the cooked beans in the freezer. You could also use cannellini beans.
How I Made my Soup
First, I cooked my sausage. I like to cook my sausage on low heat so that it stays tender.
Next, I added all the vegetables and cooked them for ten minutes. You want the vegetables to be tender, but not mushy.
Then, I add hot chicken stock and the beans and just cooked it for five more minutes.
Finally, I toasted bread with mozzarella cheese on it, until the cheese was all brown and bubbly.
We all really love this Sausage Minestrone with Cheesy Toasts. It’s such a quick and easy, hearty soup, that I’m sure you will all love.
Sausage Minestrone with Cheesy Toasts
A vegetable soup filled with sausage and topped with toasts covered in melted cheese.
4½lbs.chicken breasts and wings with skin and bones
10cupswater
2peeled onions
2peeled carrots
3peeled parsley roots
1tbsp.kosher salt
4stalks celery
1peeled parsnip
2tbsp.garlic cloves
1cupfresh parsley and fresh dill
Instructions
Put the chicken and the salt in a large, tall pot and cover with ten cups of cold water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, skimming any scum that forms.
Add all the vegetables and herbs and simmer for two and a half hours. Pour the soup through a strainer to remove everything but the broth.
Pork Chops with Roasted Tomatoes is an elegant but easy main course. I make this dinner by topping thick bone-in pork chops with with two delicious toppings. First, I slow roast fresh grape tomatoes, which add such sweet and fresh flavor. Then, I make a …
Pork Chili with Cornbread Dumplings is a hearty main dish soup. I fill this chili with pulled pork, pinto beans, chicken stock, bell peppers, and spices. Then, I simmer cornmeal dumplings right on top of the chili. The Equipment I Used Dutch Ovens- I used …
Pulled Pork Egg Rolls with Cilantro Dipping Sauce are one of our new favorite appetizers. I fill my egg rolls with slow cooked pulled pork. Luckily, I had some pulled pork in my freezer. So, I was able to cook this entire dish in under an hour. Besides the pork, I fill my egg rolls with julienned broccoli stalks, carrots, and red pepper. Then, they are served with a Cilantro Dipping Sauce. I blend the cilantro with peanuts, garlic, and olive oil. It is a truly delicious dipping sauce.
The Equipment You’ll Need to Make the Egg Rolls
Deep Fry Thermometer- Since this appetizer is deep fried, you really need to use a deep fry thermometer.
Dutch Oven- You will need two Dutch ovens. First, braise the pork in one Dutch oven. Then, use a second Dutch oven to deep fry the egg rolls.
Food Processor- This is for making the Cilantro Dipping Sauce.
The Ingredients You’ll Need for Pulled Pork Egg Rolls
Pork- Be sure to use a boneless pork butt.
Chicken Stock- I always use homemade stock. The recipe is below.
Egg Roll Wrappers- These can usually be found in the produce department.
Broccoli Stalks- Peel the stalks first.
Cilantro- Be sure to wash your cilantro well.
Peanuts- I used unsalted dry roasted peanuts.
Lime Juice- Use fresh lime juice.
How I Made This Appetizer
First, you will need to make the pork.
Next, I made the cilantro dipping sauce.
Then, I filled the egg rolls with the pork and vegetables.
Next, I heated my oil and carefully fried the egg rolls. As long as the oil is kept at exactly 370 degrees, the egg rolls will cook up perfectly.
Finally, I drained the rolls over a wire rack.
I must tell you, these Pulled Pork Egg Rolls with Cilantro Dipping Sauce are super tasty! And, they would be a terrific New Year’s Eve appetizer.
Pulled Pork Egg Rolls with Cilantro Dipping Sauce
Egg roll filled with pulled pork, broccoli, red pepper, and carrots. Served with a Cilantro Dipping Sauce.
Begin by cooking the pork: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place the sliced onions and garlic in the bottom of a Dutch oven, and then add the pork with the fatty side up. Mix together all the spices, but not the sugar, and spread them all over the pork. Pour the chicken stock into the bottom of the pot. Cover tightly and bake for four hours. Shred the pork with two forks and stir it back into the onions. Add the sugar to the pork and stir until combined. You will only need about two cups of the pork for this recipe. But, this pork freezes great!
Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce: In a food processor, chop the cilantro, peanuts, and garlic. Then, add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth.
Fill a Dutch oven, fitted with a deep fry thermometer, with an inch of oil. Heat the oil to 370 degrees.
Lay an egg roll wrapper out, so that it's diamond shaped. Put a couple of tablespoons of pork and two slices of each of the vegetables slightly below the middle of the wrapper. Moisten all four corners or the wrapper with water. Pull the bottom corner of the wrapper over the filling, and then turn in the sides, pressing down to seal. Then roll up the egg roll, pressing down to seal the top point. All these directions come with the egg roll wrappers. Repeat with the rest of the egg rolls.
Fry the egg rolls three at a time, for about four minutes each, until they're golden brown and crispy. Drain the rolls on a wire rack over a pan. Do not add a new batch of egg rolls until the oil is exactly 370 degrees.
4½lbs.chicken breasts and wings with skin and bones
10cupswater
2peeled onions
2peeled carrots
3peeled parsley roots
1tbsp.kosher salt
4stalks celery
1peeled parsnip
2tbsp.garlic cloves
1cupfresh parsley and fresh dill
Instructions
Put the chicken and the salt in a large, tall pot and cover with ten cups of cold water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, skimming any scum that forms.
Add all the vegetables and herbs and simmer for two and a half hours. Pour the soup through a strainer to remove everything but the broth.
Pork Banh Mi Bruschetta with Pickled Vegetables is a Vietnamese inspired appetizer Personally, I like serving it at holiday parties where I serve lots of different appetizers. This year, my family is having an appetizer and dessert party to celebrate New Year’s Eve. These little …