Frittata with Carmelized Onions and Sausage

Frittata is an egg-based dish similar to an omelette or quiche, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, vegetables or pasta. A frittata is not folded like an omelette, and has no crust like a quiche. This is a great option when cooking breakfast or brunch for more than four people and requires only one pan. Use your imagination as you would with an omelette by adding spinach, bacon, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, green/red peppers, ham or anything you choose.

 

Ingredients: (serves 6 people)

1/2 large yellow onion diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2 lb. sausage crumbled

12 eggs beaten
1 large tomato diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbs. chopped fresh basil (or dried basil)
1 tbs. butter or margarine
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In 9" cast iron skillet brown sausage over medium/medium-high heat until no longer pink. Place browned sausage in a bowl reserving 1 tbs. of grease. In same skillet, add onions and butter and cook until they begin to soften, add garlic and stir frequently to prevent garlic from burning. Cook onions and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 4-6 minutes. Return browned sausage to skillet and mix with onions and garlic. Cook until sausage is done, about 4-6 minutes. Pour egg mixture into skillet over sausage and onions and stir. Add tomatoes and basil and stir. Cook on stove top for 1 minute. Sprinkle shredded cheese over frittata and place in oven. Cook in oven until cheese melts and eggs have set and are lightly browned.

Slide a butter knife around the outer edge of the frittata to ease removal from the skillet. Using a spatula, gently remove frittata from the skillet onto a plate. Cut into wedges and serve immediately. Should make 6 healthy wedges.

Delicious Chicken Quesadillas

Because this is one of the few things my wife's daughters like, I cook these quesadillas at least once a month. They're easy and you don't need a special pan.

Ingredients: (makes 8 quesadillas to feed 2-3 people)

Two (2) burrito size flour tortillas
Shredded Taco cheese (8 oz package)
Fajita style chicken breast strips (6 oz package)
Vegetable oil 1/4 cup
Chunky salsa
Sour cream

In a 12" skillet or fry pan, heat oil over medium heat (3-4 on dial) until hot. Place a paper towel on a large cutting board. Place chicken breast strips in a microwaveable dish and heat about two minutes on medium-high. Meanwhile, lay the tortillas on a flat surface and dress one tortilla with shredded cheese as shown.

Add the heated chicken strips on top of the shredded cheese as shown.

Place the second tortilla over the chicken and cheese and place carefully in the fry pan.

Cook tortillas in hot oil until golden brown and lightly crisp. Turn carefully and cook other side until done.

Place cooked quesadilla on paper towel and an another paper towel on top side to catch oil. Using a large chef knife, cut quesadilla in half, then quarters, and again until you have eight (8) wedges as shown.

Serve quesadillas with salsa and sour cream. This is great with yellow saffron rice and black beans on the side.

Easy and Delicious Baked Ziti

This is a great recipe for families with little time for cooking. I serve this for my family regularly and it's always a hit. I make it most often with grilled (already cooked) chicken strips or ground beef. I've also made it once with some good italian sausage. This dish is still good without a meat item.

Ingredients:

1-16 oz. box dried ziti or penne pasta
32 oz of your favorite pasta sauce
8 oz. finely shredded mozzarella or italian blend cheese
6-12 oz. meat (ground beef, chicken strips, italian sausage)
fresh basil sliced in a chiffonade (thin ribbon-like strips) or dried italian seasoning


Directions:
Prepare meat addition and put to side. Drain ground beef or sausage of grease.
In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta according to the directions on the package.
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to BROIL at 400 degrees F.
In a large bowl, blend pasta sauce with meat.
Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour cooked and drained pasta into casserole dish, then spoon sauce/meat mixture over the pasta and mix evenly. Add basil or italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle cheese generously over pasta and place in center of oven for 20-25 minutes (until cheese is golden and starts to bubble).

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good which he has given you. [Deuteronomy 8:10]