grilled pizza

I'd always been intimidated by making a grilled pizza, but after some research I decided to give it a try. Albeit a very packaged try.

1 package pizza dough (fresh and easy has a rosemary focaccia that we like to use)
pizza sauce
mozzarella or favorite cheese
pesto
Parmesan cheese

spread out the dough on an oiled pan.
heat grill to low on all burners
brush oil on grates
carefully slide (or maneuver however you can) the dough onto the grill
wait until bubbles appear on the top
flip over onto pan used earlier off the heat. this will give you a chance to add all the toppings without being rushed.
we did this with half pesto half pizza sauce.
slide pizza with toppings back onto grill and cook until done (every grill will vary)

This was a delicious, smoky dinner that needed 4 hands for sure, but fun to do with hubby.

stuffed portabella mushrooms

this is one of my absolute favorite recipes, and one of the few that we repeat with any regularity.

portabella mushroom caps, stems removed
clean the outside
salt pepper and 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
stuff with chicken sausage, your favorite flavor
bake at 350 for 35 minutes or till sausage is cooked through.

it takes 5 minutes to prepare, and has so much flavour because the juices from the sausage meld with the flavors of the mushroom.

tortellini salad

I made this cold salad to serve at work. It is so yummy!

boil, drain, oil and chill cheese tortellini (depends on how much you want to eat)
8 oz pepperoni chopped
1/2 vidalia onion chopped fine
1/4 cup chopped roasted red pepper
1/4 cup chopped marinated mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
1/4 cup chopped green and black olives
salt and pepper to taste

mix above ingredients. Pour 1/4 cup balsamic vinegrette (or home made dressing) and 3 T EVOO and mix. Chill.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (ode to Marisa)

My sister-in-law Marisa, who is an amazing cook like her mother, served this recipe the first time I met the family. It was so delicious that I got the recipe and made it for my coworkers whom I love cooking for.

8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
sprinkle cheddar cheese on top to cover

Mix first 4 ingredients. Sprinkle cheese. Cover with tin foil and bake 20-25 minutes at 350. Uncover, cook additional 20 minutes. or place in crock pot without cheddar on top, heat till everything is melted then add cheese to top.

dip tortilla chips into dip.

Tuna Melt

This starts with a great base recipe of tuna salad. Very fresh and crunchy.

2 stalks celery washed and diced
1/4 vidalia onion (when in season, otherwise use red onion)
1/4 cup water chestnuts chopped
salt/pepper to taste
2 cans of your favorite tuna
1/2 cup Olive Oil mayonaise (more or less to texture)

Mix above and refrigerate.

To make melt, put 2/3 cup onto 1/2 whole wheat bagel and cover with any kind of shredded cheddar cheese and broil in toaster oven until bubbly. Serve with cauliflower salad.

Cauliflower Salad

Served cold this is a delicious low cal salad

1 head cauliflower cut and washed
sesame dressing*

sesame dressing
2T sesame oil
1/2 t dijon mustard
1/2 t grainy mustard
1T rice wine vinegar
2/3 t soy sauce
pinch of sage powder
1/4 t garlic powder
drizzle olive oil and wisk till blended.

Pour over cauliflower and marinade over night in the fridge.

this dressing is our standard salad dressing.

Tortellini with Sauce

This turned out so beautifully, I wanted to eat more of it.

1 lb cheese tortellini boiled in salted water and drained
store bought red spaghetti sauce (i buy it when its on crazy sale)
2 links chicken sausage (or sausage of preference)
1/2 vidalia onion (or yellow) sliced
4 mushrooms cleaned and sliced
1-2 T EVOO

(if the sauce you bought has no extra flavorings, add small amounts of dried basil, oregano, and garlic powder)

Cook onion over medium heat with EVOO until soft, add mushrooms cook 4 more minutes. remove from pan and set aside. Remove chicken sausage from casing and cook in pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add mushroom and onion, top with 1/2 jar of spaghetti sauce. Warm through. Add tortellini, stir and warm. Top with parmesan cheese.

Serves 3 comfortably with a salad.

*EVOO is extra virgin olive oil