Saffron Rice

This is a great recipe a friend shared with me.

1 pkg Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice

1 chopped bell pepper

1 chopped onion

1 chopped clove garlic

1 Tablespoon olive oil

3 cup water

1 pkg chopped pepperoni

Saute bell pepper, onion, and garlic in olive oil. Bring water to boil and add 1 pkg saffron rice. Boil 15 minutes. Add sautéed veggies and pepperoni to boiling rice and boil 15 minutes more. 

Zucchini and Rice Casserole

2 cups cooked rice
2 pounds sliced zucchini
¼ cup butter
1 medium diced onion
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
2 beaten eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
½ pound sausage
2/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
½ cup fine Italian Bread crumbs
Place butter, onion, and zucchini in fry pan and sauté. Remove from pan and set aside. Place sausage in pan and cook. Add cooked zucchini mixture and cooked rice to cooked sausage.
Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Place a layer of rice zucchini mixture in bottom of pan. Sprinkle with half of the parmesan and cheddar cheese, layer with rice zucchini mixture again and top with remaining cheeses. Top with Panko bread crumbs mixed with Italian bread crumbs.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Creamy Cheesy Ziti

In a skillet
1 lb ground beef
1 medium chopped onion
Set aside.(I like to add meat to this recipe but it is optional)

Blend together in a bowl:

2 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb. cottage cheese

Boil salt water and add :

1 lb ziti (I used Trio Italiano pasta)

Cook until pasta is soft, but not cooked through. Drain pasta, rinse, and leave in colander.

Heat in a skillet:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
5 medium minced garlic cloves
Cook until fragrant but not browned.

Stir into skillet:
2 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 oz)can diced Italian Recipe tomatoes with garlic,oregano & basil
1 teaspoon dry oregano flakes
2 tablespoons dry basil flakes
Simmer until thick. Turn off heat and add:
1 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In a sauce pan stir to blend:
3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup half and half
Bring to simmer and cook until slightly thickened.

Remove pot from heat and add:
1 cup tomato sauce mixture
all of the cottage cheese mixture
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese cut into 1/4 inch chunks
Cooked ground beef
Stir to combine. Add mixture to cooked pasta and coat thoroughly with sauce.
Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Transfer pasta mixture to baking dish. Top with remaining tomato sauce mixture and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese cut into 1/4 inch chunks
Cover pan tightly with foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown--30 to 45 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes and serve.