Sausage, Fennel and Ricotta Pizza

Because Archer was sick last week, Craig and I decided to stay home and keep an eye on him on Saturday night. I decided to spice things up by having pizza night. We had a great time rolling dough and putting them together. I actually came up with two new pizza combinations, both of which I will put up this week. First, I did a simple chicken sausage with sliced fennel. I used mainly part skim ricotta cheese, to lower the calories, and complimented that with a sprinkle of mozzarella. I bought dough at the store and  just rolled it out to fit my pizza pan.

My favorite part of making pizza is that it only takes a few minutes to cook! I am by no means a pizza expert, but I have complied some tips along the way toward getting restaurant quality results:
1. Get your oven as hot as you can. Until I build a brick pizza oven in my dream house, I settle on getting my oven up to 500 degrees and preheating it for 20-30 minutes
2. Get your crust as even as possible. One of the challenges of homemade pizza is to get an even crust thickness. This goes a long way towards keeping it crisp. I recommend constantly flipping, flouring and rolling
3. Keep your toppings light and spread evenly. If your toppings are too heavy it will make your crust soggy. The best thin crust pizza is only lightly topped.

Full recipe after the jump!
Read more »

Easy Skillet Lasagna

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year. However, things get so busy and hectic that I'm having trouble finding time to cook. So I thought it would be a great time to develop something quick and easy that can last a few days. Lasagna is so yummy and delicious, but it's always been a special occasion or weekend meal. No more! This skillet lasagna takes less than 40 minutes to put together and makes an incredible weeknight meal. The best part is that it makes enough for some great leftovers and will keep for 3 days in the fridge.

Don't be intimidated by all the steps, basically you brown up some meat, I used chicken sausage, but you could use turkey or ground beef, and then layer a lasagna in a cast iron skillet and bake it. The key to making this work quickly is to use slightly more sauce than you would making a normal lasagna, the extra sauce helps to "cook" the noodles. I used fresh pasta sheets, which I found at the store, but you can also use no boil lasagna noodles. Either will work well.

As usual, I've lightened up this recipe by using whole wheat noodles, cutting back the cheese, and using lean chicken sausage.


Read more for the full recipe
Read more »

Sausage Stuffed Squash

With fall arrives my absolute favorite veggie: squash! I love all varieties and will be cooking probably every single one in the coming weeks. This dish combines the sweetness of roasted sweet dumpling squash with spicy sausage, breadcrumbs, and parmesan. I always scoop out the flesh of the squash and mix it with the stuffing mixture, it adds flavor and really helps to intensify and highlight the fresh squash.

Read more for the full recipe!
Read more »

Cranberry Bean and Farro Soup

Fresh, filling soup is a wonderful fall treat. I got the most beautiful cranberry beans at the farmer's market and decided to build a recipe around them. The tasty beans and nutty, chewy farro are fabulous in soup, as they maintain their texture and flavor well. This recipe makes enough that you will have ample leftovers for lunch.

Read more for the full recipe
Read more »

Chicken Sausage with Beans and Rabe

I got some great organic broccoli rabe from Sienna Farms and decided to make a warm and comforting dinner. Traditionally called manasta, this dish combines sausage, beans and some type of greens. It can be made with any combination of the three. While sometimes served over pasta or rice, I prefer to eat it with some hard, crusty bread. It's an incredible simple dish, that can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes. It's packed with protein, incredibly filling, and makes for a great leftover lunch.

Read more for the full recipe.
Read more »

Best Bolognese Sauce Ever

Craig came home today and begged me to make a bolognese sauce. I decided to create a version that highlighted a few different meats and some fresh herbs. This is a simple and flavorful sauce that will make your kitchen smell divine. Bacon, sausage and ground beef combine for a complex, meaty, and hearty sauce. Serve over the whole wheat pasta of your choice, I used farfalle, but anything would work well. Top with some fresh grated parmesan and black pepper.

Also, you may have noticed the gorgeous cutting boards I use in many of my photos. They are actually handmade by my grandfather, who sells them on Etsy! Click here to check out his page.

Full recipe after the jump!
Read more »

Italian Lentils with Sausage

Lentils are consistently rated one of the world's healthiest foods. Filled with B Vitamins, folate, calcium and phosphorus, they are also a great source of protein and iron, making them a staple of vegetarian diets all over the world. This is a traditional Italian dish usually served on New Year's Day. Because lentils resemble small coins, it is believed that eating them will bring you good luck and prosperity in the New Year. My grandmother always made this dish, so it's one of my favorites and it makes a filling and nutrient-dense dinner. One serving has 35 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber. It's worth the extra time to make ahead. You can get multiple meals out of a big batch.

Instructions and photos after the jump.
Read more »