Crock Pot Sausage & Peppers

I usually make sausage and peppers on top of

the stove, but sometimes I like to assemble

everything late morning when I have the time

and l know I will be out or busy most of the day.

It's nice not to have to fuss with dinner when 

I arrive home late or tired. I let this 

 slow cook all day and then I just need to boil
the pasta when it's time for dinner while I unwind
 and enjoy a glass of red wine. 

To the crock pot add: the sausage and peppers cut
into bite-size pieces, the chopped onion and garlic,
the seasonings. Add the spaghetti sauce.

 Add a little wine to the jar and swish around.

 Add to the pot and stir it all to combine.

 tip: I love to reuse these Mason jars. HERE, HERE.

 Combine all the ingredients, cover and cook
on low for 6-7 hours. Cook your 1/2 box penne

and stir into the pot before serving.

Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
Easy!

Crock Pot Sausage & Peppers

  with Penne

3/4- 1lb hot Italian sausage cut into pieces

1 large green pepper, diced

1/2 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, smashed or chopped

1 t Italian seasoning

(1/4 t red papper flakes only 

if using mild sausage)

Pasta sauce, 24-26oz jar 

(they keep changing the size!)

1/2C red wine

~~~~~~~~

Combine all ingredients, adding the wine to the

 empty pasta sauce  jar to swish out all the 

sauce before adding. Cover and cook on low for

 7 hours. Before serving add, 

 8oz cooked penne to the pot and stir

 to combine. serve with parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style,
Designs By Gollum, Common Ground,
My Romantic Home, The Charm Of Home

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Shrimp with Roasted Peppers and Spinach

 Garlicky shrimp, buschetta topping, and spinach 

tossed with pasta is delicious and ready in 

the time it takes to boil the pasta.

This recipe uses ingredients I usually have on 

hand for that 'what's for dinner tonight?' 

moment. Especially if you don't want to go out.

I always keep a bag of shrimp in the freezer

 for quick dinners like this one. 

Extra fast when you use a jar of bruschetta topping.

 Mince the garlic and saute in oil for 2 minutes. 

Measure out the remaining ingredients 

so that you can quickly add as needed:

a cup with all the seasonings, 1/2C bruschetta,

 1/2C broth, 1/2C cheese, 3T butter.

 Add the shrimp, peppers, salt, pepper, red pepper 

flakes and saute for 1 minute, then stir in the broth

 and cook for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp are 

just turning opaque. Don't overcook at this point.

 Reduce heat to low and stir in the cheese, then

 Stir in the spinach, pasta and butter.

Toss until the spinach wilts and the 

butter and cheese melt.

A delicious dinner in under 20 minutes.

Shrimp with Roasted Peppers and Spinach

12 oz L or XL shrimp, peeled and thawed if frozen
2T olive oil
3 cloves, minced
1/2C sweet pepper bruschetta topping
1/2t kosher salt
1/2t pepper
1/4t red pepper flakes, crushed
1/2C chicken broth
1/2C shredded Parmesan cheese
3T butter
4C fresh baby spinach (6 oz bag)
8 oz linguini pasta (or thin spaghetti),
   cooked and drained

1. Heat a large saute pan on medium for
     1-2 minutes.
2. Add olive oil and garlic; cook 2-3inminutes
     until fragrant.
3. Add bruschetta topping, shrimp, salt, pepper,
     red pepper flakes and stir 1 minute.
4. Add broth and cook 2-3 minutes until slightly
     reduced and the shrimp have just turned
     opaque.
5. Reduce heat to low and stir in the butter,
     spinach, cheese, and pasta.
6. Toss until butter and cheese melts and the
     spinach wilts. Serve.

*L raw shrimp comes in a 12 oz bag in the freezer
  just rinse under cold water and peel. Thaws in minutes.
*if bruschetta topping isn't available, finely chop
  1/2C roasted red pepper

Enjoy!

Links: Stone Gable,
No Minimalist Here, Somewhat Simple,
Common Ground, The Charm Of Home,
Between Naps On The Porch, Rattlebridge Farms,
My Romantic Home

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Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti

This is one of our comfort food 
family dinners. It's an old standard.
This dinner comes together very quickly.

Make the sauce first and while it simmers 

you can make the meatballs.

I hadn't made it in years. 

Very basic ingredients

 Dump all the sauce ingredients into a saucepan.

In a large bowl combine the meatball ingredients.
You can use either Italian or plain breadcrumbs.
I do think fresh garlic and parsley make a
difference in the taste. I always have a
pot of parsley growing on my patio or
in my garden. Buy yourself a pot and you'll
have fresh parsley for a long time.

 After it's thoroughly mixed, roll into balls.
 You should get about 22-24.

 Saute in oil quickly to brown.

I turn them using two spoons.

 Add the sauce to the meatballs, or add the
meatballs to the sauce. Just be sure to get
all the flavorful browned bits.

 I have also, on occasion, just added the meatballs
right into the sauce without the browning step.
If that's how you like it, do it that way.

 Cover and simmer 30 minutes or a
little longer if you have skipped the
browning step.

Serve over hot spaghetti and
sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
And teach your children the
'Meatball Song'

Turkey Meatballs

Sauce:

1 can diced tomatoes-15 oz

1 can tomato paste- 6 oz

1 can water- 6 oz 

1 can mushrooms- 4 oz

2 T Worcestershire sauce

1 bay leaf

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/4 t oregano

Combine in a saucepan and simmer for

 one hour Add the meatballs for the 

last 30 minutes

Meatballs

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 C breadcrumbs

1/4 C parmesan cheese

1 garlic clove, minced

2 T chopped fresh parsley

1 egg

1/2 t salt

1/8 t pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Shape into meatballs. Heat 3 T

olive oil in a large skillet and saute the 

meatballs until browned but not thoroughly

cooked. Add to the sauce in the pan, 

scraping in all the browned bits. Simmer

 in the sauce another 30 minutes. 

Serve over hot spaghetti.

Enjoy!

Links: Six Sister's Stuff,
Stone Gable, Coastal Charm,
Between Naps On The Porch,
A Stroll Thru Life

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A New Chicken Parmesan

This Chicken Parmesan recipe is from
The Palm  restaurant.

It has a secret ingredient.

Start the sauce first so that it simmers while
you make the chicken.

Saute the garlic and basil leaves in olive oil.
This infuses the oil with flavor.

Add the canned tomatoes, wine, and

seasonings.

 I used a potato masher to mash the tomatoes.
Let simmer. This makes enough sauce to freeze
some. You can also cut the recipe in half, but I
 like to have sauce in the freezer for fast dinners.

 Flatten the boneless chicken breasts

 between plastic wrap with a rolling pin.

 Prepare 3 plates for the coating.
1. beaten eggs, 2. flour, 3. Italian breadcrumbs.

 Coat first with flour

 then coat with eggs

and last into the breadcrumbs.
Score with a knife.

 I cut each breasts in half. Let rest 10 minutes
 or you can cover and refrigerate at this point
and  finish the dish later.

Saute the chicken in hot oil for about

2-3 minutes on each side.

Pour a little sauce onto an ovenproof platter.
Place the chicken breasts on top. Spoon a little
sauce on the each piece of chicken and
sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese.

 Here's the secret ingredient.

Muenster Cheese 

 Lay a slice of muenster cheese on top of
each piece of chicken.

 Place under the broiler and watch carefully.

 When the cheese is melted and bubbly
remove from the oven and

Plate with pasta. I hope you like it.
The Muenster cheese gives it a
wonderful rich flavor. Once the sauce is
done the rest comes together pretty quickly.
Enjoy with a nice Pinot Noir.
Cheers!

Chicken Parmesan

Marinara Sauce

1/4 C olive oil

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 C fresh basil leaves, loosely packed

2  28-oz cans crushed tomatoes

1/2 C white wine

salt & pepper to taste

2 t sugar

1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan on 

medium high heat. Add the garlic cloves and stir

and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the 

fresh basil and cook 1-2 minutes. Add the canned 

tomatoes and crush a bit with a potato masher. 

Add the wine, salt, and sugar. Simmer for 20-30

  minutes then add the crushed red papper flakes 

and about 10 turns of freshly ground pepper. 

Let simmer on low until needed.

You can cut this recipe in half, or put extra 

sauce in the freezer for another meal.

Chicken

2 boneless chicken breasts

1 C flour

1 C Italian breadcrumbs

2 eggs

2-3 T canola oil

Pound the chicken  flat between plastic wrap.

Put the flour on one plate. Whisk the egg on 

another plate and the breadcrumbs on a 

third plate. Take a flattened chicken breast and

 coat it first in flour, then in the egg, then in the

breadcrumbs. Make sure it is thoroughly coated,

then score with a knife. Cut each cutlet in half.

Let rest for 10  minutes or cover and 

refrigerate until ready to cook.

Heat the canola oil in a large skillet. 

Add the chicken and cook about two minutes

 on each side until browned.

Topping

Marinara sauce-about 4 C

8 T grated Parmesan cheese

4 slices Muenster cheese

Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Spread some of the sauce on the bottom 

of an ovenproof platter. Place the chicken

on top and add a spoonful of sauce and  about 

2 T grated parmesan on each piece.

Cover with a slice of Muenster.

Place under the broiler and watch carefully.

When all the cheese is melted and bubbling

remove from the oven and serve with pasta.

Garnish with basil leaves.

Enjoy!

Links: Stone Gable,
Savvy Southern Style,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Rattlebridge Farm, My Romantic Home

Read More