Italian Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

10 thick slices bacon, diced
2 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 pounds Italian sausage
1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
2 pints part-skim ricotta cheese
2 eggs
3 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/3 cup milk
9 slices provolone cheese
7 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

Brown bacon and onion in a large pan over medium heat. Stir in fennel seed, 1 teaspoon oregano, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce. Cover, and simmer on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until thick.
Brown sausage links in a large skillet. Drain on paper towels. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
Mix together ricotta cheese, egg, milk, parsley, and 1 teaspoon oregano in a medium bowl.
Layer 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Layer with 1/3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1/2 ricotta cheese mixture, 1/2 sausage pieces, 1/3 mozzarella, and 1/2 provolone cheese. Top with 1/3 sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 1/3 noodles. Spread remaining sauce over the top, and sprinkle with remaining 1/3 mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 1/2 hours

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

INGREDIENTS

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts

DIRECTIONS
Beat together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
Spoon into two 9 inch graham cracker pie shells; cover, and freeze until firm.

Vegetable Lover's Chicken Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces chicken tenders, cut into bite-size chunks
1 small zucchini, finely diced
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons tiny pasta, such as farfelline
1 1/2 cups packed baby spinach

Directions

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add zucchini, shallot, Italian seasoning and salt and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth, wine and tiny pasta increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the pasta is tender, about 8 minutes, or according to package directions. Stir in spinach, the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices from the chicken; cook, stirring, until the chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes

Black Beans, Corn, and Yellow Rice

INGREDIENTS

1 (8 ounce) package yellow rice mix
1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin

DIRECTIONS

Bring the rice, water, and olive oil to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
Mix together the beans, corn, lime juice, and cumin in a large bowl. Stir in the cooked rice and serve.

Spinach and egg pizza recipe

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp mixed dried herbs
400g can plum tomatoes
225g spinach, washed
2 x 150g balls mozzarella, chopped
4 medium eggs
For the dough
350g strong plain flour, plus extra for dusting
3/4 tsp fine salt
3/4 tsp fast-action dried yeast
1 tbsp olive oil

Direction

1. Make the dough. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Stir in the yeast, then gradually mix in 200ml tepid water and the oil, to form a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes. Put into an oiled bowl, cover and set aside for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wide frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the purée and herbs, cook for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes, breaking them up with the spoon. Simmer for 15 minutes, until thickened. Season and set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 230°C/fan210°C/gas 8. Knead the dough, then roll out to a large thin rectangle. Press onto a large, oiled baking sheet and spread with the tomato sauce. Put the spinach in a colander, pour over boiling water and squeeze out the liquid. Scatter over the pizza, top with the cheese and season. Bake for 15 minutes, until pale golden.
4. Crack the eggs on the pizza and bake for 5 minutes, until just set. Serve with a green salad.

Spaghetti puttanesca

Ingredients

olive oil
2 garlic cloves , thinly sliced
400g chopped tomatoes , tin
1 tbsp capers , chopped if large
2 anchovies , drained and chopped
handful pitted green olives , sliced
large pinch dried chilli flakes
200g spaghetti
small bunch flat-leaf parsley , roughly chopped

Direction

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan,

add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.

Tip in the tomatoes, capers, anchovies, olives and chilli.

Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened slightly.
Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain, toss with the sauce and the parsley and serve.

Lemon Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cake flour

3 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup butter

3 egg yolks

1/2 of lemon rind, grated

5 Tbs. lukewarm milk

3 egg whites, beaten until stiff

1 lemon, sliced thin and in half (used for garnishing)

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups powdered sugar

Frosting:

Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon rind, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy.Add 3 cups powdered sugar and beat together. Add the additional 2 cups of powdered sugar. Beat until creamy. Add more icing sugar or juice as needed for easy spreading.

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the flour with the baking powder.In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar and add the yolks one at the time mixing very well. Add lemon rind and the milk alternately with the flour.Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold the egg whites very carefully into the mixture.Pour mixture into a 9" round greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until done. Remove cake from pan and let cool completely.Cut cake into layers and fill with icing. Spread icing over the entire cake until covered. Use thinly sliced lemon pieces cut in half around the bottom of the cake