Italian Veggie Tofu Pasta Salad

We've decided to eat more tofu. For one thing, we actually like it but also it's good for us and it's cheap compared to meat.

Ingredients:
whole wheat penne pasta, cooked
olive oil
extra firm tofu, cut into 1/4 inch squares
zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch squares
bell pepper, coarsely diced
blue cheese
Italian vinaigrette
fresh ground black pepper
red pepper
salt

Instructions:
Marinade the tofu in the vinaigrette for a few minutes. Heat some olive oil in a saute pan. Add the tofu and zucchini. Cook for a few minutes and then add the bell pepper. Add the black and red pepper and the salt. Cook until browned to your liking. Mix the cooked vegetables with the pasta, blue cheese and vinaigrette to your taste.

Grilled Potato Salad

If you've discussed grilling with me, then you know I've made grilled potato salad in the past. Well, I've found a better way. Slice the potatoes instead of chunks.

Ingredients:
Potatoes
Mustard
Olive oil
Fresh ground black pepper
Red pepper flakes
White wine vinegar

Directions:
Peel or wash the potatoes well. Slice as consistently as possible (about 1/4 inch). Parboil for about 5 minutes. Dry the potatoes thoroughly. In a bowl big enough to hold the potatoes, mix the last 5 ingredients to make a sauce (use the amounts that will coat the number of potatoes you have). On a preheated grill, grill the potatoes until they are browned on both sides. Return them to the bowl with the sauce and mix with the remains. Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Cheesesteak

I have lots of peppers and onions in the fridge due to the weekly produce allotment that i receive. So, I offered to make grilled sausage and peppers for MTH last night. He wasn't in the mood for sausage but asked what else could we have with peppers and onions. Chicken cheesesteaks somehow came to mind. Here's what we did:

Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
garlic salt
oregano
red pepper flakes
fresh ground black pepper
1 green pepper
1/2 Vidalia onion (ok so this was actually from my parents)
1/4 yellow tomato (whatever your have on hadn will do)
mozzarella cheese (not the kind in water)
parmesan cheese
2 hoagie rolls

Directions:
Preheat the grill. PLace the whole pepper and pieces of onion on the grill. The onion will only take about 5 minutes. The pepper about 10 minutes (until it's somewhat blackened). Use the garlic salt, oregano, red pepper flakes and black pepper as seasonig to your liking. Grill the chicken. Toast the rolls on the grill. Construct your sandwich as you please - I put the cheeses, green pepper, onion, tomato and mustard on mine. You could add a pickle too.

Homemade Lasagna (About 1 hour)

We usually go out to eat on Saturday nights but this week, we went out on Friday night and then ate in on Saturday. On my blog, you can read about the dinner out here (link coming soon) and you can read MTH's review here (link coming soon).

Here's the quick lasagna that I made last night. Note that it feeds enough for an army so be prepared for leftovers if there's only two of you like me and and MTH.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage
1/2 pound ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
29 oz petite diced tomatoes
8 oz tomato paste
oregano, to taste
salt, to taste
fresh ground pepper, to taste
red pepper flakes, to taste
16 oz skim ricotta cheese
1 egg
Parmesan cheese (use how much you like)
mozzarella cheese (use how much you like - I tried not to make it too cheesy)
12 lasagna noodles, boiled

Preparation:
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cook the ground meats until almost no pink remains. Add the onion and green pepper. When they are translucent, add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir to combine. Add the spices to your taste. Let simmer for at least 15 minutes. Taste again and add more spices if necessary. Mix the ricotta, egg and Parmesan cheese.
In a 9x13 pan, start with a small amount of sauce (2-3 spoonfuls). Place 4 noodles across the pan. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat the layers ending with sauce ensuring that the sauce covers all the noodles. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Let set for about 10 minutes before serving.

Hot Pepper Grilled Cheese (Less than 10 minutes)

MTH was hungry after his 5 mile run so I needed to make something quick (plus, I've got lots to do - Christmas cards, finish decorating, go to the grocery store for the week, etc). So, I decided to make grilled cheese sandwiches. You're probably asking yourself why am I putting this one on my recipe blog. Well, it may be a simple recipe but it turned out to taste really good.
Here's what you need:
French bread, halved lengthwise
butter
red pepper flakes
extra sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
non-stick frying pan
cake pan or plate that fits inside the frying pan
heavy pan

Here's what you do:
Melt a little butter into the non-stick pan on high. Sprinkle in red pepper flakes to your taste. Let them toast for about 30 seconds or so. Then, toast the French bread cut-side down. Put the cake pan or plate on top of the bread and then weight it down with the heavy pan. Toast for about 30 seconds. Take out the toasted bread and turn down the heat to low. Place the sliced cheese onto the bottom piece of the toasted bread. Top with the other slice. Place back into the non-stick pan. Put the plate or cake pan on top and weight down with the heavy pan. Toast for 30 seconds to a minute. Turn it over and toast again for another 30 seconds to a minute. You now have a spicy grilled cheese sandwich. Everyone will ask for seconds so be prepared!