12 uncooked manicotti pasta shells
1 lb bulk Italian sausage
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 jar (26 oz) tomato pasta sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with Italian-style herbs, drained
1 egg
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
Basil

Heat over to 350 degrees. Cook pasta shells as directed on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.

Cook sausage, garlic, and oregano until sausage is browned and drain. Stir in pasta sauce and tomatoes. Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in a 13×9-inch glass baking dish.

In a bowl, beat the egg. Stir in the ricotta cheese and 2 cups of the Italian cheese blend. Spoon cheese mixture into a food storage bag. Cut a hole in one bottom corner of the bag and squeeze the bag to pipt out about 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture in each pasta shell. Arrange stuffed shells over the meat sauce in the dish. Pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the shells.

Cover the dish with foil. Bake 35 - 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Top with remaining cup of Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered 5 - 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle basil over the top before serving.

For breadsticks with a little zip, sprinkle them with garlic powder before baking.

1 cut up whole chicken (3 - 3 1/2 lbs) (I used a roaster for this recipe instead. You just have to cook it a tad longer)
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 envelope savory herb with garlic soup mix
1/3 cup of chicken broth
1 large onion cut into 6 wedges
2 - 3 handfuls of baby carrots
2 medium unpeeled russet potatoes each cut into 8 peices.

Heat over to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, mix broth and soup mix. Brush both sides of chicken pieces with about half the oil mixture.

In a large bowl, mix celery, onion, carrots, potatoes, and remaining oil mixture. Arrange vegetables in an ungreased pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Place chicken pieces in pan overlapping the vegetables if necessary. Bake 35 - 40 minutes longer until vegetables are tender and the chicken is 170 degrees for breasts and 180 degrees for thighs and legs.

Makes 4 servings

Aghhhhh!!!! I forgot to do this last week, because I tried to wait for Friday to actually do the meme!!! Therefore, this week I am doing it now, so I don’t forget! If you’d like to participate, head over to Fun, Crafts, and Recipes.

#1. What’s your favorite food smell? Pork chops. The funny thing is that I really don’t like to eat them all that much but I love how they smell when they are cooking.
#2. What’s your favorite kind of apple? Ummm apple pie? I don’t really eat just apples.
#3. What veggies do you like in your salad? Carrots.
#4. Share a recipe that uses beef.

Lasagna Rolls

9 lasagna noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce
1 container (16 oz) ricotta cheese
1 1/4 shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.

Prepare the noodles according to the packaging directions. Drain noodles. Rinse with cool water; drain again. Lay noodles flat on wax paper.

Cook the ground beef, onion, garlic in a skillet until browned. Drain fat. Add pasta sauce and heat to a boil. Spread 2 cups of meat sauce into prepared baking dish.

Mix ricotta and 1 cup mozzarella in a large bowl. Spread cheese mixture over each noodle.

Roll up noodles tightly. Place seam side down on top of the meat sauce in dish. Spoon the remaining sauce over rolls and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake rolls until heated through (about 30 minutes). Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and let stand for 5 minutes.

4 boneless/skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope of Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
1 can (14 oz) diced tomato
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or you can use Monterey Jack cheese)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a 13×9 baking dish, arrange the chicken. In a bowl, mix the soup mix, tomatoes, and oil. Then pour the mixture over the chicken.

Bake uncovered 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional two minutes or until cheese is melted.