Skillet Baked Ziti and Sausage

Skillet Baked Ziti and Sausage

Yields: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

1, 28 oz can of whole, peeled tomatoes

1 pound turkey sausage or turkey kielbasa 

6 medium cloves of garlic, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

3 c water

12 ounces of dry whole wheat ziti or penne

½ c milk

½ c low fat parmesan cheese

¼ c chopped fresh basil

¼ c light or 2% mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Pulse tomatoes and juice in a food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.

2. In a 12 inch oven-safe skillet, cook sausage (remove casings) breaking it apart,3-5 minutes or until browned. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper and cook another minute.

3. Add tomatoes, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer gently, stirring

occasionally for 10 minutes. Stir in water, add pasta, cover, increase heat to 

medium-high and cook pasta 15-18 minutes, stirring often.

4. Stir in half and half, parmesan cheese, basil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cook in a 350°F oven 10-15 min until lightly browned on top.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

This is a great healthy meal for a busy weeknight. 

Ingredients: 
1 tbsp olive oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 1/2 c regular spaghetti sauce  (I use Basil & Parmesan flavor)
1/4 c grated low fat parmesan cheese
1 1/2 c shredded 2% low fat mozzarella cheese

1. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides.
2. Stir sauce and 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese in skillet. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
3. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and remaining parmesan cheese over chicken. Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Goes great with whole wheat pasta and a salad.

**the last time I made this recipe, I cooked the chicken on the George Forman and it worked out perfectly. 

Beer Pizza Dough

Ingredients

1 cup flat beer 

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/4 tsp yeast

Olive oil

Pizza Sauce, Cheese, Toppings of choice

Directions:

1. In a bread machine pan, pour the flat beer in first.
2. Add in the butter, sugar, salt, and flour.
3. Create a small hole in the top of the flour and pour the yeast inside.
4. Lock bread machine pan into machine and press dough cycle.
5. Once cycle is completed, remove dough and place into a greased bowl.
6. Cover and allow to rise until doubled in bulk (about an hour or so).
7. Roll dough out onto a pizza stone.
8. Brush lightly with olive oil.
9. Cover pizza pan and allow to sit for about 15 minutes.
10. Add sauce and toppings of choice and bake in a preheated oven, 400, for about 25 minutes.