Ravioli Casserole

My sister found this recipe on another blog. It's called Real Mom Kitchen. It's a great blog, you should check it out. She has pictures too. But, my sister made this for dinner on my mom's birthday. It was good. Plus, it looked really easy to make! It's a lot like a ravioli lasagna.

Ingredients:
1 jar (28 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 package (25 ounces) frozen cheese ravioli, cooked and drained-You can also use fresh
2 cups (16 ounces) small curd cottage cheese
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Spread ½ cup of spaghetti sauce in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
Layer with half the ravioli, 1 ¼ cups of sauce, 1 cup cottage cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes or until bubbly.
Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
6 to 8 servings.

I think the secret to this is choosing a good ravioli. Use one that you've tried and know tastes good! You can also use a meat or spinach ravioli, we just like cheese. You just cook it according to the directions on the package. Also, be sure to use cottage cheese NOT ricotta. My sister bought ricotta by accident, it wasn't bad, but I think cottage cheese would be way better. One other thing, I love fresh stuff, so use fresh Parmesan, it's worth the little extra cost and work!

A Lesson in Italian-Gnocchi

So a long time ago I said I was going to post this recipe. Here is finally is. They are called gnocchi, you say it like this: Yo-Key. Typically this pasta is made with potatoes. I learned from a little old Italian man that there is a simpler way that tastes just as good.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tub of ricotta cheese (the smaller size) I was told I said ricotta wrong here is the proper way Ri-Coat-a
A few shakes of Salt and Garlic Powder
Grated Parmesan Cheese (Fresh is better)

So you add all the stuff together, minus the cheese
Knead it until it forms a dough ball
Add enough cheese to cover the top of the dough maybe a little more if you like it, I do.
Knead in the cheese

Now take little sections of it and roll them out like a snake, they should be the thickness of you little finger
Cut them into 3/4" sections
This part is kind of tricky to explain. You're going to take a fork and turn it around so the curve is out. Roll the pasta down the for to create ridges. This will help hold sauce on it.
Cool in fridge for about 10 minutes.

Add to boiling water
Cook about 5-10 minutes, or until they are floating at the top
You should test one to be sure it is cooked how you like

Top with marinara or Alfredo sauce. We like to use the pork marinara sauce I posted previously.

Spaghetti Sauce

This is a recipe that was given to me by one of my favorite people in the world. He is my butcher and is soon retiring. I am so sad about that!

Ingredients:
3-4 pounds pork (Ribs or Pork Chops) If you use ribs, cut into 2-3 rib sections. I used chops that the butcher cut for me. He cut one chop into 4-6 pieces. He even cut the bone. I am using boneless chops next time.
Olive Oil
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
Tomato Sauce
Italian Seasoning

In a fry pan heat enough olive oil to coat bottom of pan, plus a little extra
I trimmed the fat off the meat
Brown the meat
Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder
Add tomato sauce. I used 4 small cans and 1 large. The small cans were flavored with basil and oregano I think. I also had to add about a cup of water.
Add Italian Seasoning
Simmer 4+ hours. I Let mine cook around 5.5 hours
Serve over cooked pasta

This is so easy! I served it over homemade gnocchi. I'll have that recipe tomorrow. It was also easy, but took a lot of time!

Angel Hair Tuna

I also found this on Taste of Home. It has tuna, which I like, but the old hubbie does not. I will have to make this when he's away.

Ingredients:
2 packages angel hair pasta with Parmesan cheese dinner mix (You know like a Lipton or Pasta Roni)
1 can tuna, drained (Use 2 cans if you want a little extra tuna taste)
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 15)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Prepare pasta dinner mixes according to package directions
Stir in the tuna and Italian seasoning
Transfer to a large serving bowl; cover and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.
Toss cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over the top
(I'm going to skip the crackers. I don't know, it seems weird)

Manicotti with Cheese

This recipe is found on the back of the American Beauty Manicotti box.

Ingredients:
1 package Manicotti
1 3/4 cups Ricotta Cheese
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups Spaghetti Sauce

Boil pasta until tender
Heat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl mix all the cheeses, salt, pepper and parsley
Spoon into cooled pasta tubes
Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on bottom of a 13x9 pan
Arrange filled pasta in a single layer over sauce
Pour remaining sauce over pasta
Cover with foil
Bake 40 minutes
Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly

This is good with garlic bread, salad and green beans.

Pasta in Tomato Cream Sauce

This pasta dish is so good. It is one of my favorites! It is out of a cook book I got in high school called 30 Minutes or Less. It is super easy to make, is very filling and tastes great.

Ingredients:
8 ounces penne or other tube pasta
1 (14.5 ounce) can of tomatoes with garlic and onion
1/2 cup fresh basil chopped OR 1 tsp dried basil
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Boil pasta until tender and drain
Cook tomatoes over medium high heat in skillet until thickened about 5 minutes
Reduce heat
Add basil and cream
Heat through, do not boil
Toss with pasta and cheese

Sides I like with this: I like homemade bread, but any kind of roll is good, Rhodes are really easy or refrigerator rolls are fast. Of course a green salad goes with this, but so would green beans or a warm veggie.

Tortellini Soup

My husband made this one night. He is my inspiration for this blog. Love you!

Ingredient List: This will feed 2 adults and 2-3 children
1 bag of frozen tortellini. Ravioli also works, but then it is called ravioli soup
1 large can of tomato soup
Garlic Salt
Black pepper
Parmesan Cheese

Boil the tortellini until they float to the top
Drain
Add soup
Season with garlic salt and black pepper
Heat through
We like to stir in a lot of Parmesan cheese but you can just sprinkle in on top if you like less

Sides to go with this: Bag of salad and garlic bread