Posts Tagged ‘pasta sauce’
Some recipes are not to be touched. Classic sugar cookies, grandma’s pasta’s sauce, great grandma’s sweet bread, the PERFECT, family-secreted chocolate chip cookie, you know the ones. They’re time-tested and perfected over the years and simply adding an additional chocolate chip may tilt the whole dish off-balance. Trust me, don’t mess with grandmas.
But some recipes welcome additions, substitutions and customization. In fact, by making tweaks to an existing recipe, you could be creating what will become a family, “do-not-touch-this-recipe-or-else” tradition.
This past week I took the plunge and created, what I think, is a pretty genius upgrade.
And it’s so, so simple.
First, take your favorite meatball recipe (I prefer turkey). In this case, I used Jenna’s turkey meatball recipe (but added some extra oregano).
The meatballs are quite delish on their own, but last I checked, a little cheese never hurt anyone 
What I’m about to tell you only requires one extra ingredient and is sure to add indulgent (but healthy) deliciousness!
The secret ingredient? STRING CHEESE.
Cut string cheese into 1 inch sections (you’ll need about 2-3 sticks, depending on the size of your meatballs). Now, before forming your meat mixture into meatballs, roll the meat around the section of the cheese stick and then form a ball. Bake according to the recipe and you’ll have Stuffed Turkey Meatballs.
It’s definitely one of those “why didn’t I think of that sooner” moments
Let’s just say that while this dish was incredibly delicious, it didn’t look the prettiest on my camera — but here’s an incredibly unhealthy version from Applebee’s to give you the idea
Unlike the Applebee’s calorie and fat bomb, my meatballs are very healthy and provide a great source of protien. Adding reduced fat string cheese to the mix simply adds some creamy indulgence, without sabatoging the health-factor of the dish.
ENJOY!
What was your last “genius moment” in the kitchen? How do you put your own stamp on classic recipes?
Who says that taking the long way has it’s rewards? Clearly they’ve never encounter pre-cooked chicken sausage.
Don’t get me wrong, the scenic route is great and making homemade food provides a real sense of accomplishment and added happiness when you eat your dishes. People, this is not one of those times.
This next recipe requires 6 ingredients and makes a complete, delicious meal.
You’ll need (serves two hungry people):
1 package of mushrooms (I used baby bellas – pre-washed and sliced, of course!)
1 package of chicken sausage
Your favorite pasta sauce – about 1 1/2 cups – go with the jarred, people! Save the homemade stuff for a long, winter/fall afternoon.
2 slices of bread
Butter
Parmesan Cheese
First, place a saute pan on medium heat and mist with cooking spray. Add your mushrooms and brown on both sides.
Now that things are getting hot and steamy, add the chicken sausage (make sure to slice it before hand). Since it’s already cooked, you shouldn’t have to cook it long.
Add the pasta sauce an mix, reducing the heat to low/med.
While this is simmering, turn your broiler on to low/med and microwave a few tablespoons of butter. Add Parmesan cheese and stir — keep adding cheese until the butter thickens, resembling a paste (but not too thick). Spread on top of bread and place in the broiler for about 3 minutes.
Remove sausages/sauce/shrooms from stove top and transfer into bowls. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve along side garlic bread, the perfect “dipper!”
Rub your belly and thank yourself for taking the shortcuts
What are your favorite kitchen shortcuts?
Have you entered the PizzaPal giveaway yet? Who wouldn’t want one of these charmers? Tonight I went with one of my favorite stand-bys…Whole Wheat Gnocchi with my famous sauce. See, I keep containers of the sauce in the freezer, for nights when I don’t feel like cooking, but crave a homemade meal.
Works like a charm! Trust me — next time you are making sauce or soup, just make some extra and freeze it in plastic containers – great way to keep homemade deliciousness on-hand!
These pillowy whole wheat gnocchi get me every time!
What is your favorite stand-by for when you are craving “homemade,” but don’t want to cook?