Easy Bolognese Sause

As you can tell by the title of this recipe, Easy Bolognese Sauce...it is actually easy!  What is great about this sauce is that you can make it ahead of time and freeze it in portions.  I made this on a Sunday morning and had enough sauce for 2 meals, shared some of it and then froze the rest.  I probably would have added in diced carrots and celery if I had any on hand when I made this, so I will do that next time and see if it tastes any different.  Serve this Easy Bolognese Sauce with your favorite pasta and you will have a quick, delicious, and filling meal.  I made mine with spaghetti and it was so good.  Enjoy!  

Easy Bolognese Sauce

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, diced

3 or 4 cloves garlic, minced

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon red chili flakes

½ cup red wine

½ cup milk

2 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped (I used 2 basil cubes by Dorot.)

Directions

In a heavy pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add onions and sauté until soft about 5 to 7 minutes. 

Next, add in garlic and sauté until fragrant.

Add ground beef to onions and garlic.  Cook until meat is no longer pink, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and red chili flakes.

Stir in red wine and milk.

Cover and simmer on low for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

Stir in basil about 10 minutes before end of cooking time. 

Serves 6 to 8.

Lasagna with Homemade Tomato Sauce

Lasagna can be an easy make ahead meal, especially if you make your tomato sauce ahead of time or use store bought sauce.  I actually like to use the no-boil lasagna noodles; it cuts the time in half and I don't notice any change in taste.  This time I made my own tomato sauce and added in sausage, but you could omit the meat if you want it to be vegetarian.  What I love about lasagna is how versatile it can be, you can add veggies, sometimes I add in mushrooms and/or spinach.  This recipe is a simple, traditional lasagna.  Enjoy!

Lasagna with Homemade Tomato Sauce

Printable Recipe

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

15 ounce can tomato sauce

6 ounce can tomato paste

16 ounce (1 package) hot pork sausage (I used Jimmy Dean brand.)

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

1 tablespoon parsley, dried

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for Lasagna

9 ounce (1 box) no-boil lasagna noodles (I used Barilla brand.)

14 ounce ricotta cheese (I used whole milk ricotta.)

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

½ cup parmesan cheese

Directions for Tomato Sauce

In a dutch oven, over medium heat, cook sausage until browned.  Add in minced garlic.

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, and tomato paste.  Add in parsely, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt and pepper.

Cover and simmer on low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Allow to cool.

Directions for Lasagna

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium sized bowl, combine beaten eggs, ricotta cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.  Set aside.

Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Spread about 2 cups of tomato sauce in bottom of baking dish.

Arrange 4 lasagna noodles on top of tomato sauce, the noodles will overlap slightly.

Spread 1/3 ricotta cheese mixture over noodles.  Top with ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Next layer, arrange 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 ricotta cheese mixture, ½ cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Next layer, arrange 4 lasagna noodles , remaining ricotta cheese mixture, ½ cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Last layer, 4 lasagna noodles, remaining tomato sauce, and ½ cup mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered with foil for 40 to 50 minutes.  (Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray to prevent foil from sticking to the cheese.)

Uncover and continue baking for additional 5 to 7 minutes minutes until cheese is melted.

Let stand  and cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Roasted Veggie Pizza

Yesterday I went to the Crystal City Farmers Market.  I try to go every week whenever possible and it is convenient for me since I work nearby.   It is also where I bought my basil plant a few weeks ago and I am happy to say that it is still alive!  You can get seasonal fruits and vegetables, plants, eggs, meats (bison, chicken, beef, pork), baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies), honey, and other specialty foods.   The bakery stand has delicious cookies too but I didn't buy any this week.  I was trying to be good :)  During this week's visit, I bought broccoli, beets, and a zucchini.  What better way to use up some of the vegetables I got for a roasted veggie pizza.  I already had homemade pizza dough in the freezer that I defrosted in the fridge the previous day. This pizza was delicious and even more tasty with farm fresh veggies!

Roasted Veggie Pizza

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

homemade pizza dough, recipe here

tomato sauce, recipe here

½ onion, diced

½ zucchini, diced
½ red bell pepper, diced

1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets

mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt

freshly ground pepper

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place diced onion, zucchini, bell pepper and broccoli florets onto baking sheet. (Cover baking sheet with foil if you want to reuse the sheet for the pizza.)  Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

 

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes to roast lightly.  Remove vegetables from oven.

Roll out dough and press down onto a greased baking sheet.

 

Spoon tomato sauce onto rolled out pizza dough.

Top with roasted vegetables.  Next top pizza with mozzarella cheese.  I used sliced mozzarella, but you can also used shredded.

 

Bake for 15-18 minutes, until edges of dough are crisp and cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Need a simple and healthy dinner idea?   This baked chicken parmesan dish is perfect for date night or a family meal.  Serve it with a side of veggies and pasta for a complete meal.  It also tastes great the next day as leftovers.  You can reheat in a toaster oven for a single meal or microwave.  Enjoy!

 

Baked Chicken Parmsean

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 ¼ pounds thin sliced chicken breast (5 pieces)

½ cup Italian breadcrumbs

½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 slices mozzarella cheese (You can use shredded cheese too.)

1 cup tomato sauce

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a bowl, mix together breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.

In another bowl, add in olive oil.

Lightly coat chicken breast with olive oil, then dip into breadcumb/cheese mixture.  

Place chicken breast onto baking sheet.  Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.

 

Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn each chicken breast over and bake an additional 5 minutes.

 

Remove from oven and spoon tomato sauce over each chicken breast.  Top with ½ slice of mozzarella cheese.  Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top with basil if desired.  Serves 4-5.