Simple Lemon Tartlets

These cute little tarts will be sure to impress your family and friends!!,,Using premade pie crust helps in making these really simple to make!,,I used a 3 inch diameter Wilton flower cookie cutter,,,,Next time I am going to experiment with different shapes,,,I think a star shape would be fun!,.....and as far as fillings go the possibilities are endless!!,,,I used lemon fruit filling for these, but I think any type of pudding or pie filling would work great, I would also like to try a putting a slice of banana on bottom and then topping with banana pudding and whip cream!!,,,You can be creative and have some fun with this!....In the past I have also made little pumpkin pies, which I added the filling to the raw crust and baked together,,,,when using a pudding or pie filling you would just bake the crust first and when cool add your filling!...Here is what I did....Enjoy!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

Pre Made Pie Crust (room temperature or set out about 10 minutes)

Lemon fruit filling

whipped cream

Powder sugar (for dusting)

 

 

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350

Remove dough from package and rollout slightly with rolling pin

Cut out shapes (I got 12 flowers from each circle of crust) So 1 package will make 24 tarts

You can also roll out excess dough to make more if you like!

spray your mini muffin tin with cooking spray

press a flower shape into tin,,,,,,I baked for 8 minutes

Remove when done and let cool before filling ,,,,add whip cream or any other garnish you like (I dusted with powder sugar)

 

Here are the mini pumpkin pies I have done, I

filled with pumpkin pie filling according to can

and baked for about 20 minutes

 

Pers~ a~Natalie: Holy Cannoli Trifle

Pers~ a~Natalie: Holy Cannoli Trifle: I have been seeing a lot of recipes lately using cannoli cream,,,,,Cannoli's are one of my familys favorite Italian desserts!!.....Well ...

One Pot Lasagna Soup

Here is another one pot recipe!,,,I am just loving these!!,,,,,I guess you could call this deconstructed lasagna!,,,,,I used elbow macaroni for this but you can use other pastas too,,,I think Rotini or Ziti would be nice, also I used Italian sausage with fennel but you could use plain or even use ground beef if you like!,,,And the Ricotta mixture you add to the bottom of each bowl, then another dollup on top makes this extra yummy!!,,,Here is what I did,,,Enjoy!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

5 links Italian sausage (removed from casing)

1 medium onion (diced)

 

2 Tablespoons tomato paste (I use it from the tube)

2-3 cloves garlic (minced)

2 teaspoons dry oregano

2 teaspoons dry basil (you could also use fresh chopped)

pinch red pepper flakes

2 bay leaves

4 Cups chicken broth

2- 14 1/2 ounce cans petite diced tomatoes

2 Cups Elbow Macaroni

salt and pepper to taste

 

Ricotta Mixture for garnish

1 1/2 Cups Ricotta

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella

1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Remove sausage from casing and add to a dutch oven or large pot with a lid

add diced onion and brown sausage until it is no longer pink

 

Once sausage is cooked add the tomato paste and garlic,,,,then add the rest of the ingredients....give it a stir then bring to boil uncovered,,,,,,Once it comes to a boil, turn to simmer and cover.

Stirring every 5 minutes or so continue to cook until pasta is cooked about 12- 15 minutes

 

TO SERVE

 

Add a spoonful of the ricotta mixture to each bowl ladle soup over it and then add another dollup of the mixture on top and Enjoy!

 

 

One Pot Chilli Mac

I am loving these one pot recipes!!,,,And to think I used to make this the old fashioned way and use different pots to cook everything and then add it all together!!,,,,Well I love the way this turned out and so did my family!!,,,My husband called this one a Home Run!!,,,This is one pot, but the beef and onions are cooked first and then you add everything else!,,,Here is what I did ,,,Enjoy!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

1 pound ground sirloin

1 onion (diced)

1 t salt

1/2 t pepper

 

1 box (4 cups) Chicken broth

2 Cups dry elbow macaroni (I used multigrain)

1 14 1/2 ounce can petite diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans (drained)

1 can cannellini beans (drained)

1 package McCormick chilli seasoning pack (I used original flavor)

shredded cheddar for garnish

 

DIRECTIONS

 

In a dutch oven or large pot with a lid....add beef and onion and brown (my beef was lean

so I didn't drain fat), salt and pepper the beef, then add the rest of the ingredients and give it a stir

cook on medium heat uncovered, once it comes to a boil, turn to simmer and cover, cook for 12-15 minutes until pasta is done,,,stirring every 5 minutes or so

 

 

We topped ours with shredded cheddar cheese (my daughter added oyster crackers)

you could add what toppings you like, sour cream or avocado would be good also!!

 

NOTE.....if you don't have the seasoning packet you could use 2 teaspoons each of chilli powder and cumin

Adding shredded cheddar while it was hot made this extra yummy!!

 

 

 

 

 

One Pot Pasta Primavera

Here is another one pot pasta recipe I am posting!,,,The one I have posted in the past I make at least once a week now!!,,,So I wanted to try and come up with another version, I added heavy whipping cream to this one at the end along with parmesan cheese, to give it a creamier base, I really like the texture of this recipe, I also added fresh zucchini and fresh mushrooms along with frozen peas, but I am sure you could use  other vegetables as well,,,And I just really like the fact that everything starts out in one pot together, including the uncooked pasta!!,,,Here is what I did,,,Enjoy!!

 

INGREDIENTS

 

 

1- 14 1/2 ounce box of Barilla Plus (multigrain pasta)

5 Cups Chicken Broth

3-4 cloves garlic (minced)

1 onion sliced thin

2 zucchini (quartered and sliced thin, with skin)

1/2 pound (about 10) Mushrooms (sliced)

1 Cup frozen peas

1 t dry oregano

1 t dry basil

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

 

1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Add all ingredients except the whipping cream and parmesan cheese

to a dutch oven or large pot with a lid, breaking pasta to

fit in pot

 

Bring to a boil  on Medium heat uncovered, stir,

once it comes to a boil cover pot

and turn to simmer

for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes

 

Once liquid is absorbed add heavy cream and parmesan cheese

Serve and add more parmesan if needed

 

NOTE:  If you are using 12 ounce box of regular pasta you will

only need 4 cups of broth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candy-Cookie Pizza

My daughter and I have always made Cookie Pizzas in the past,,,,but we would put cool whip and fruit on top of the cooled chocolate chip cookie,,,,For my hubby's birthday (along with his cake),,,we decided to do something a little different,,,The possibilities are endless to what you could add,,, Here is what we did, we hope he likes it!!,,,,Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

1 Tube ready made chocolate chip cookie dough

mini rolos

mini peanut butter cups

mini marshmallows

 

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Preheat oven to 350

 

Press dough into 12 inch pizza pan (I am sure you

could do in a cookie sheet also)

 

bake for 10-12 minutes

 

remove from oven

turn oven to broil

 

add toppings

 

return to oven on middle rack (not to close to broiler)watching closely until marshmallows are toasted

about 3 minutes

 

Note: This was seriously amazing!,,,we didn't even cut it,,,everyone just

broke off a piece!!

 

 

 

Cheesy Gnocchi Bake

One of my daughters favorite Italian dishes is Gnocchi....ever since she was a little girl that is all she would ever order when we took her out to eat!!,,,,Well I make my Gnocchi soup for her and she loves that, but I wanted to come up with something a little different to do with it,,,,so I searched some recipes and came up with a combo of a few different ones,,,I guess you could call this Italian Mac and Cheese! ...You can also use gluten free gnocchi for this recipe!....Here is what I did,,,,Enjoy!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

2- 1 pound packages dry Gnocchi

1- 15 ounce jar Alfredo Sauce (I used the four cheese)

1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese (plus a little more to sprinkle on top)

Panko Breadcrumbs (to sprinkle on top)

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Preheat Oven to 350

 

Boil Gnocchi as directed on package

 

Spray an ovenproof casserole dish then add cooked and drained gnocchi

 

add Alfredo sauce , parmesan cheese and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella

and mix all together

 

 

sprinkle panko and parmesan cheese on top then the remaing

1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese

 

Bake for 20-25 minutes,,,then I turned oven to Broil

to brown  the top (keep an eye on it, it should only take a couple of minutes)