Baked Ziti Casserole

This is my go-to meal when I want to make food for a friend or their family when they are feeling under the weather, just had a baby ect.  Its fast, simple, filling and makes great leftovers!!

Baked Ziti Casserole
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1 box or bag of pasta (penne, spirals, macaroni or even tortellini)
1 jar or can of spagetti sauce
1/2 to 1 Ib ground beef or Italian sausage or a combo
1 small container of ricotta cheese
1 bag of shredded motz cheese (reserve 1/2 cup)
onion-diced
garlic
pepper
red pepper flakes-optional
*(you can add whatever you want to this dish.  You could add mushrooms, red or green peppers or some zucchini and squash, just cook it up with the meat or leave the meat out and make it vegetarian)

Boil the pasta as recommended on the package.  In the mean time brown the meat with diced onion. Add garlic, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.  Place the browned meat, the spag sauce, and both cheeses in a large mixing bowl.  When the pasta is done drain and mix it in.  Pour into a casserole dish (or a disposable 9x13 if giving it away).  Top with remaining motz cheese. You can now refrigerate or freeze it and keep for later or bake it now.  Bake time will be based on if it is warm, cold or frozen.  Bake at 350 uncovered until hot in the middle.

Grilled Zucchini

Looking for a summer or fall veggie to make on the grill.  Here is the ticket.  Learned to slice them the long way from my friend Mere.  Yummy and easy.

Grilled Zucchini
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zucchini
olive oil
garlic powder
Salt and Pepper
any other spices you might want

Slice the zucchini the long way about 1/2 inch thick.  Place on a cookie sheet, rub with olive oil and season as desired.  Flip them over and repeat.  Place them directly on the grill and grill over med-high heat a few minutes on each side until they are crisp-tender and have grill marks on them.  Pull off the grill and eat!!

Jake's Grilled Fajita Wraps

When I came home from work the other night Jake had "whipped up" this yummy dinner.  He made extra to share with his brothers at the lake the next night.

Jake's Grilled Fajita Wraps
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steak (could use chicken)
onion
red and green Peppers
1 fajita seasoning packet
shredded mexican blend cheese
laughing cow cheese wedges- chipotle flavor
large size burritos tortillas
olive oil

Put half of the dry fajita seasoning on the steak and grill it until desired "pinkness".  Slice onion and peppers, season with the other half of the seasoning.  Either use a BBQ specific grill pan to grill the onion and pepper or saute in a pan until crisp tender.  Slice steak.  Steam or mic the tortillas until they are a little moist so they are a bit sticky.  Spread the soft cheese on the tortilla.  Place the other cheese, steak slices and veggies inside the tortilla too.  Roll it up closing the ends and place a small amount of olive oil on the outside.  Place and rotate on the grill until crisp.

Easy Caprese Crackers

The basil in my garden this year has gone nuts......so, we have been eating a lot of caprese....but when you run our of baguette to have it with I resorted to some crackers.  Crunchy and yummy!

Easy Caprese Crackers
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Tomato
Fresh basil leaves
fresh Motz cheese
crackers (these ones were pretty large and veggie flavored)

Layer the ingredients as seen in the picture and have as a snack or serve as an app!

Grilled Pizza

Jake and I made a pizza on the BBQ last week.  It was so good, we both agreed probably better than when we make it in the oven.

Grilled Pizza
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*1 prepared pizza crust (I get the ones in the bag that "On the Rise" makes.  Make sure you get it room temp before trying to work with it)
*Sauce (red, white or we used a parma rosa sauce)
*Toppings (we used some grilled chicken, thin sliced red onion, tomato, red pepper and basil from our herb garden.)
*Cheese (we used both shredded and fresh motz)

Preheat the grill on med heat.  Roll out the dough using some flour or corn meal to help with sticking and place it on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle a little olive oil on each side of the dough.  Use the cookie sheet to transport the pizza to the grill.  Place the dough directly on the grill.  Grill the first side for about 3-6 min.  Remove from grill and flip.  Place toppings and cheese on already grilled side of pizza.  Place back on grill crust side down now to grill the other side.  Close the lid of the grill so the cheeses melt and grill for another 3-6 min until the crust is not longer "raw" and has grill marks.  Pull of the grill, cut and enjoy!!

**Great with a salad with lettuce, kale, peas, steamed and cooled beats from our garden!!

Summer Citrus Punch

I made this to take to the neighbors house for dinner.  Enjoyed it on the front deck while chatting and looking at the Bridger Montains!

Summer Citrus Punch
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1 frozen container of limeade concentrate
1 can ginge-ale
1 cup orange juice
ice
fresh mint
blueberries

Make the limeade as directed.  Mix in the orange juice and the can of ginger-ale.  Place the punch in a nice glass pitcher.  Finish with ice and a handful of fresh mint and a handful of blueberries.  The mint and berries will float to the top making the punch look fun and summery.  Enjoy!!