The Good Food Blog

Lasagna Rolls

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Intermediate
Prep time: 25 minutes (ready in 60 minutes)
Makes: 6-10 servings (makes 12 rolls)

Things you’ll need:

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Pinch ground nutmeg

Lasagna:

• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)

Directions:

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.

Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching, atop the bechamelsauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve alongside.

Source: foodnetwork.com

Baked French Toast Casserole

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 minutes (ready in 8 hours 30 minutes)
Makes: 12-14 servings

Things you’ll need:

• 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 Tbps granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• Dash salt
• Praline Topping, recipe follows
• Maple syrup

Praline Topping:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 Tbps light corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Source: foodnetwork.com

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 45 minutes
Makes: 6-8 servings

Things you’ll need:

• 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

Directions:

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 approximately 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 thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage.
7. Add kale just before serving. Delicious!

Buon appetito!

Source: tuscanrecipes.com

Chocolate Waffles

Rating: 4/5
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: 6-8 servings

Things you’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 4 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 Tbsp butter, softened
• 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp milk

Directions:

1. Preheat waffle iron. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cocoa. Stir in milk, eggs and butter until mixture is smooth.
2. To make hard sauce: stir together softened butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Sauce should be fairly stiff.
3. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot with hard sauce.

Source: allrecipes.com

Cream Cheese Mango & Peach Salsa Dip W/Tortilla Chips

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Idiot proof
Prep time: 5 minutes

Things you’ll need:

• Tortilla chips
• Cream cheese (softened)
• Mango Peach Salsa (or similar)

What a great snack to eat while your sitting back watching the tube. I ate these while I was watching the game show 1 vs. 100. I found this sweet salsa at the local groceries store and poured it over a half a square of softened cream cheese. Delicious.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Idiot proof
Prep time: 10 minutes

Things you’ll need (duh):

• Fresh strawberries
• 1 bag chocolate chips
• 2 Tbsp shortening

This is a great treat for you and your significant other to enjoy on valentines day. They are extremely easy to make too and you’ll save a bundle from not buying them at the store.

Get some milk chocolate (or your choice) flavored chips from the store. Toss them into a saucepan with the shortening at low heat and let them melt into a liquid. The shortening makes the chocolate creamy and helps keep it from sticking to the wax paper. While they are melting you can wash your fresh strawberries. Then get out a cooking sheet and put a piece of wax paper on it. Once the chocolate is ready, roll the strawberries with a liberal coating of chocolate and place them the cooking sheet. Next put them in the fridge for 15 minutes or so, until the chocolate stiffens. Now go grab your partner and enjoy together.

Cherry-Topped Brownie Dessert Squares

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 minutes (ready in 3 hours 15 minutes)
Makes: 16 servings

Things you’ll need:

• Store bought box of brownies
• 2 (8-oz.) blocks of cream cheese (softened)
• 1 tub of vanilla frosting
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 (21-oz.) can of cherry pie filling

First of all make some brownies in a 13×9 pan. You can choose any type that look good at your local grocery store. While they are cooking, you can make the topping. Start by adding the softened cream cheese, vanilla frosting and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl; blend well. Spread over the cooled brownies (it should take about 30 minutes for them to cool). Throw them in the fridge for a couple hours or to speed up the process, put them in the freezer for 30 minutes or so. Once the creamy topping is setup, spread the cherry pie filling over the top and serve. It makes about 16 squares, depending on how big you make them. Enjoy this tasty treat, it turns a regular brownie into a heavenly delight.

Easy Dessert Crepes

Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: 12-14 servings

Things you’ll need:

• 1 tub whipped cream
• 1/2 square cream cheese
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp melted butter

Toppings (of your choice):

• Jam
• Powdered sugar
• Chocolate syrup
• Fresh fruit

First step, make the filling

It is really easy. You simply add whipped cream and cream cheese to a bowl. Not really any science here, just mix it to your taste and liking. You will end up with a mashed potato type consistency.

Second step, make the batter

4 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp melted butter

Measure all ingredients into a bowl; blend for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides. Blend for 15 seconds more. I usually use a hand blender, it is pretty easy blending. It may take you a few minutes longer. You should end up with a pancake sort of batter, only much thinner.

Third step, throw it in a pan

Your batter (if you made it right, duh) will be a thin liquid consistency. Pour a little in a pan and tilt and twirl your pan until it full covers the pans cooking surface. It should be about a quarter inch thick, again not rocket science. I only cook them on one side for a couple minutes. The bottom will end up a little more smooth while the top will be a little spongy.

Fourth and final step, make the crepe

Now this is really the fun part, you get to assemble this tasty treat. I start out by putting a line of the creme cheese and whipped cream mix (that we made earlier) in the center of the crepe. Then I roll it up like a burrito and add jam, chocolate syrup or both on top. Topping it off by sprinkling some powdered sugar on top. If I have some fresh fruit around it is certainly going on top as well. Some people prefer putting everything in the middle. There is no wrong way to make one. Have fun!

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