Pizza Dip

Ingredients

  • 16oz Cream Cheese – Softened
  • 1 Tbs Italian Seasoning
  • Pizza Sauce or Marinara
  • Pepperoni
  • 1 1/2 Cup Mozzarella – Shredded
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • 2 boxes Melba Toast

Directions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
  2. In a large bowl mix the softened cream cheese and italian seasoning well.
  3. Spoon the cream cheese mixture on the bottom of a 9 x 9 baking dish, 9 to 12 in pie pan, or something that will fit all of the ingredients. Flatten out the cream cheese evenly.
  4. Add a thin layer of pizza sauce or marinara and cover with a layer of pepperoni. Don’t skimp on the pep.
  5. Sprinkle the cheese for the final layer and top with a little pepperoni.
  6. If desired you can add a dash of red pepper flakes.
  7. Bake, uncovered in a 350 degree (F) for 25 to 30 minutes.
  8. Allow the pizza dip to cool for at least 15 minutes.
  9. Serve with melba toast or your choice of sturdy crackers.

Grilled Cheese Pizza

Ingredients

  • Garlic Butter Spread or just plain butter
  • 12 Slices White Bread
  • Marinara or Pizza Sauce (or your favorite brand)
  • 6 Slices Provolone
  • 1 Package Pepperoni – Sliced
  • 2 Cups Mozzarella – Shredded

Directions

  1. Spread the garlic butter on one side of each slice of bread.
  2. On the opposite side of each slice of bread, spread 1 to 1 1/2 Tbs (2 spoon fulls) of marinara or pizza sauce.
  3. To assemble the grilled cheese pizza, take on piece of bread butter side down, top the sauce with a slice of provolone, 6 to 9 slices of pepperoni, shredded mozzarella, and top with another slice of bread, this time butter side up.
  4. On a greased pan over medium-low heat, toast your sandwich for3 to 5 minutes. Continue to check the under side of the sandwich to ensure that it does not burn.
  5. Once the under side is toasted to your liking, flip the sandwich and toast for another 2 to 4 minutes. Again, continue to check the under side of the sandwich to ensure that it does not burn.
  6. Remove the sandwich from the pan and let rest for 2 to 4 minutes before slicing. You can serve it with a warm side of marinara or pizza sauce if you would like.

Sloppy Gia

Ingredients

  • 1 Lb Ground Chicken
  • 1 1/2 Cup Marinara (or brand of your choice)
  • 1 Cup White Onion – Diced
  • 2 Tbs Tomato Paste
  • 1/4 Cup Parmesan – Grated
  • 1 Tbs Garlic – Minced
  • 1 Tbs Italian Seasoning
  • 2 Tbs Fresh Basil – Chopped
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 6 Brioche Buns
  • Garlic Butter
  • Mozzarella – Shredded

Directions

  1. Pre-heat your oven to high broil.
  2. In a medium sauté pan, heat 1 Tbs of oil over medium heat.
  3. Place the chicken in the sauté pan, add the italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. While the chicken is cooking, break it into small pieces, add the onions and garlic, and cook through, about 7 to 10 minutes.
  5. Add the tomato paste and mix, cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the marinara, fresh basil, and parmesan. Bring to a simmer for about 2 to 4 minutes.
  7. While the mixture simmers, top both sides of the brioche buns with a spread of garlic butter and place them butter side up on an aluminum foil lined baking pan.
  8. Place in the oven on broil about 6 inches below the broiler, around the second tallest oven rack and toast the buns, about 2 to 4 minutes.
  9. Keep an eye on the buns to ensure they do not burn.
  10. Assemble your Sloppy Gia (think sloppy joe chicken parmesan style) by placing the cooked chicken mixture on the bottom of the bun, top with shredded mozzarella, and enjoy!

Pepperoni Rangoon

Ingredients

  • 8oz Cream Cheese – room temperature
  • 1/2 Cup Pepperoni – chopped into small pieces
  • 1/4 Cup Mozzarella – shredded
  • 1 Tbs Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 Tsp Onion powder
  • 1 Package Wonton wrappers

Marinara

Directions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients, minus the wonton wrappers and Marinara, in a medium bowl. Stir to mix well.
  2. Lay out the wonton wrappers, the mix makes about 24 to 28 rangoons.
  3. Place about 1 Tbs of filling into the center of each wrapper.
  4. Fold each wrapper diagonally across to form a triangle and lightly pinch the ends together. Then, bring up the two opposite corners toward each other. Push out the air as you combine all four corners and pinch together tightly. Squeeze all four edges together.
  5. Spray the bottom of the air fryer with a light coating of oil. Load the rangoons into the air fryer and spray the tops lightly with oil. Cook at 370 degrees (F) for 9 to 10 minutes. Check at 8 minutes to ensure they are not burning.
  6. Remove from the air fryer and serve with marinara.

NOTE: If you want to use the oven, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees (F) and line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil with a light coating of oil, place the rangoon on the foil, and spray the tops lightly. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.

Italian Style Meatloaf Parmesan

Ingredients

Meatloaf

  • 1 Lb Ground Beef (90/10)
  • 1 Lb Ground Pork
  • 1 Yellow Onion – Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves – Minced
  • 1 Tsp Crushed red pepper
  • 1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Tbs Lightly Dried Italian Herbs
  • 1 Tbs Worcestershire
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 Tsp Cayenne
  • 2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese

Marinara

Directions

  1. Sauté the onions, crushed red pepper, and minced garlic in a pan with olive oil over medium heat until the onions are translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set the mixture aside in a small bowl to cool.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Once the onion mixture has cooled to the touch, place the onion mixture and the remaining meatloaf ingredients except for the mozzarella cheese in a large bowl.
  4. With your hands, mix thoroughly to combine but be careful not to over mix.
  5. Form the meatloaf mixture into a football shape by hand on a baking pan lined with aluminum foil. You can also cook it in a meatloaf pan if you desire.
  6. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
  7. While the meatloaf bakes, prepare the Marinara.
  8. Remove the meatloaf and let rest for 5 minutes. Set your oven to broil.
  9. Slice the meatloaf and place on a baking pan lined with aluminum foil. Top with a large spoonful of marinara sauce and a handful of mozzarella.
  10. Broil on the top rack until the cheese is melted while being careful not to burn the cheese.
  11. Top with fresh herbs, grated parmesan, and serve on top of your favorite pasta, by itself, between some slices of toasted garlic bread, whatever you crave!

Classic Marinara

Ingredients

  • 28 Oz Crushed Tomatoes (Large Can)
  • 1/2 Yellow Onion – Diced
  • 2 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3 Garlic Cloves – Minced
  • 1 Tbs Dried Oregano
  • 1 Tbs Dried Basil
  • 1 Tbs Dried Parsley
  • 2 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Bay Leaves

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a small to medium sized pot on the stove over medium heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine.
  4. Season the sauce with the remaining herbs and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the bay leaves before using.

Simple and Quick Pizza Sauce

Ingredients

  • 28 Oz Crushed Tomatoes (Large Can)
  • 1 Tbs Dried Oregano
  • 1 Tbs Dried Basil
  • 1 Tbs Dried Parsley
  • 2 Tsp Sugar
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 Tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
  2. Use immediately or store in a jar.