Hunk A Hunk of Italian Love

Mmmm...piping hot, meaty deep dish Italian pizza pie.

Hmmm...do I call it pizza?

Do I call it pie?

Do I call it deep dish casserole?


How about...I just call it...over here...to my plate, to my mouth....Mmmmmm! Who cares what its called.

It is delicious.


1 Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust
1 lb Bob Evans Italian Sausage
1 lb Ground Beef
1/2 green pepper seeded, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, diced
1 pt freshly sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasonings
2 cups Mozzarella/Provolone Shredded Cheese
2 cups Bertolli Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9 or 10 inch deep dish glass pie plate, press one pie crust and flute the edges around the rim. Blind bake crust for 15 minutes. Purpose is to begin to cook crust so bottom will be properly baked. Keep the other crust for another recipe.

Brown beef and sausage. Drain meat. Add onion, mushrooms and green peppers. Saute to soften. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese on bottom of crust. Pour sauce on meat mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour meat mixture in pie crust. Sprinkle cheese on top and sprinkle Parmesan on top of cheese. Bake 30-45 minutes. Remove when cheese is golden brown and crust golden.

Cool slightly. Cut into 6-8 slices and remove to serving plate with a spatula.

Sandra's Fried Pork Chops and Butter Beans

Driving along I am noticing fields of bright, orange pumpkins. The air feels chilly. My closet is beginning to push summer's light and airy fabrics to the back and sweaters to the front.

Yes, I am turning my thoughts once again to comfort foods. Sometimes, my mind wanders back into history and I find myself imaging a pioneer woman bent over a large fireplace tending black iron skillets of fried pork chops and a bubbling cauldron of butter beans.
Unhuh...time to recreate.

FRIED PORK CHOPS AND BUTTER BEANS

1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. cornmeal
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 cayenne pepper

Mix together in a flat dish for dredging, like a pie plate.

4-6 Large Pork Chops or Pork Steak

Dredge chops in flour mixture and coat well. Heat 1/4 c. oil in a saute pan. Fry chops 3 1/2 minutes per side until all are golden and crispy.


BUTTER BEANS

1/2 stick butter
2 cans of Butter Beans, drained
1/2-1 cup of small cubed, Ham
1 medium onion, diced
1 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste.

Three minutes before chops are finished. Drain beans. Melt butter in a saute pan. Add ham and onions. Saute just to soften onions. Add beans and stir to mix. Sprinkle parsley, salt and pepper and stir.

Serve alongside fried Pork Chops.

In the mood for a truly pioneer experience?

Add some warmed, chunky applesauce with cinnamon. Pumpkin pie for dessert with a sweetened dollop of whip cream.

Rotini Pasta Alfredo with Ham and Peas

Don't you find on chilly, gray days you wistfully hunger for comfort food? Short on time? Here's a quickie for you!

1 jar Bertolli Alfredo Sauce
1 box rotini Pasta (corkscrews)
1 package of Boursin Garlic & Herb Cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup Ham, cut into small cubes or slices
1 10 oz bag of frozen peas
1 Tbsp butter

Bring salted water to boil and cook your pasta for 13 minutes. Last minute add frozen peas. Drain. In a deep sided saute pan melt butter, add ham and saute briefly. Add peas and pasta to pan. Pour Alfredo sauce on and empty container of boursin cheese on top of pasta. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Stir gently to combine and melt cheeses.

This recipe can easily ease from box to table in 25 minutes. Add a salad. Enjoy!