Stuffed Peppers

This is a family favorite from my Grama Booth and I never quite get mine to be like hers, but, they are still delish!
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Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients Needed:
6 large green peppers
2 pounds ground beef or pork(or mix them)
2 cups Minute rice, cooked
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp minced onion
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato soup

1. Take tops and insides out of green peppers, wash and set aside in a 9x13 baking pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine raw ground meat, cooked rice, minced onion, salt and pepper.
3. Stuff each green pepper to the top with mixture.
4. Mix tomato sauce and tomato soup together in a bowl, pour over tops of green peppers.
5. Bake for 90 minutes or until peppers are tender and meat is thoroughly cooked.

ENJOY!

Zuppa Toscana(Italian Sausage Potato Soup)

This is a recipe I got from a girl at work. It is very similar to Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana.
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Ingredients Needed:
1 lb ground Italian sausage
1½ tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
¼ of a bunch of kale

1. Sautee Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
2. In the same pan, sautee bacon, onions and garlic for approxiamtly 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
3. Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling.
4. Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
5. Add heavy cream and cook until thoughouly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage.
7. Add kale just before serving.

ENJOY!!

Italian Meat Balls

This recipe is my Grama Connie's. I have tried really hard to emulate her, but once again, when I make these, it is missing what I call "the Connie factor." Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does, there are never any leftovers!
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Italian Meat Balls
Ingredients Needed:
1 lb. ground beef
½ lb. ground pork
½ cup bread crumbs
1 egg
Pinch of minced dry onion
pinch of dry parsley

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2. Roll into 1 inch round meatballs.
3. Brown them, but do not cook completely.
4. Remove from pan and place them in slow cooker.
5. Add spaghetti sauce and cook on low all day.
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Spagetti Sauce
Ingredients Needed:
15 ounce can tomato sauce
15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 tsp. Italian seasoning
Lawry’s season salt
onion salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. Tarragon
Dash of rosemary
2 tsp. sugar
1 green pepper
1 onion

1. Stir all ingredients together. Season to taste.
2. Add to crockpot and let simmer with meatballs all day.

ENJOY!!

Pizza Casserole

This is a recipe a girl at work gave me. She made it for a potluck we had once and it was a hit! I have made this on countless occasions and everyone, especially the kids, love it.
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Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients Needed:
2 lbs. ground beef/italian sausage
2 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix
12 oz. angel hair spaghetti (in thirds)
onion salt to taste
1 20 oz. jar Prego Garlic with Olives sauce
1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes
2-2½ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
4 oz. sliced pepperoni

1. Brown ground beef, add onion salt to taste; add onion soup mix; drain off fat.
2. Combine with cooked spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, and stewed tomatoes.
3. Spread evenly in lightly buttered (or Pam) 9 x 13 inch glass pan.
4. Cover with foil and bake 30-45 minutes.
5. Remove from over and layer pepperoni pieces about ½ inch apart over entire top.
6. Sprinkle with shredded cheese over all.
7. Bake uncovered 15 minutes.
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Variations:
I usually make my own pasta sauce, I like it better than out of a jar, but the jar is obviously the quick and easy version. When I do make my own, I just add a can of sliced olives to the mixture.
You can also use other pastas like macaroni or bow ties or whatever you have on hand.

Menu suggestion: Pizza casserole, Italian bread, corn and tossed salad.

This is something that can easily be made in advance and thrown in the fridge for a few days or you can freeze it for up to three months if covered properly.

ENJOY!!