Baked Ravioli

This is a new favorite pasta dish of ours.....perfect when you want to have an easy, quick, meatless meal.  Throw in a salad and bread and you're good to go!

Baked Ravioli

recipe from Damn Delicious

You will need:

-package of cheese filled ravioli (I normally use frozen)

-1 (25oz) jar spaghetti or marinara sauce, or 2 cups of homemade sauce

-1/3 cup cream cheese, cubed

-1/2 tsp dried thyme

-1/2 tsp dried parsley

-1/2 cup (or more if desired) shredded mozzarella cheese

-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

*Preheat oven to 350, and spray baking dish with cooking spray

*Boil ravioli in a large pot of boiling water (2-3 minutes) until just tender

*Combine spaghetti sauce and cream cheese in sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until cream cheese has  melted.  Add parsley and thyme and stir.

*Spread ravioli into baking dish.  Top with sauce mixture.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top.

*Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until cheese has melted.

*Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve

Pioneer Woman's Blistered Green Beans

This is our new favorite veggie/side dish!  Pioneer Woman is still the best in my book.  And these are so simple and quick to make.  They are great paired with chicken, or  grilled steak.....or just about any main dish!  

Blistered Green Beans

from Pioneer Woman Cooks

You will need:

-fresh green beans (ends trimmed off)

-2 Tablespoons butter

-soy sauce

-sea salt (optional)

-lemon  (optional)

note: I like to use my cast iron skillet for these.  If you don't have one, just use a regular skillet, but I wouldn't recommend a non-stick skillet

*Wash and trim the green beans

*Heat butter in skillet on med-high heat (you'll want it pretty hot so it will blister the beans)

*Add green beans and saute for several minutes (I use kitchen tongs to toss around)

*When they start to blister and blacken a little bit, drizzle a few tablespoons of soy sauce over beans

*Lower the heat and continue to toss in skillet for another minute or two

*Optional: If I've got a lemon I will squeeze a little lemon juice over the top and a little sprinkle of sea salt

Crispy Italian Chicken Thighs

These chicken thighs are seriously one of my kids (and husband's) most requested meals! They call it

"crispy chicken". And they are SO simple......budget friendly too!  A good friend of mine posted this recipe on a group I'm part of a long time ago, and I've been making these ever since, at least a few times a month.  And I've recently discovered our new favorite way to eat green beans!  It's a Pioneer Woman recipe, which never disappoints, and they are equally simple and delicious. I'll post the green bean recipe to follow!

Crispy Italian Chicken Thighs

recipe from Stupid Easy Paleo

*Note: I think the key to getting the chicken skin nice and crispy (which is the best part) is making sure the skin is DRY before putting on the seasoning.  So make sure and pat the chicken dry first!

You will  need:

-1 package bone in chicken thighs (with the skin)

-1 Tablespoon garlic powder

-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

-1 teaspoon dried oregano

-1 teaspoon sea salt

*Preheat oven to 425.  Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

*Mix together all seasonings in a small bowl

*Place chicken thighs on baking sheet and pat dry with a paper towel

*Sprinkle half the seasonings on each side (you'll want to bake the chicken skin side up, so season the bottom of the chicken first, then flip and season the skin side second)

*Bake 45 minutes