Work At Home Safari» Recipes

Easy, Cheesy Ziti

kim — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:31:02 +0000

You will love how easy this ziti is to make and your kids will love how delicious it tastes. The best thing I love about my recipe is it’s very healthy because it’s made with 100% whole grain pasta, over 5 cups of fresh vegetables, and low in fat — but not low in flavor. I hope this ziti will become as big of a hit in your family as it is in mine.

This recipe makes a lot, but don’t worry because this ziti tastes even better the next day. It reheats really well for that quick work-at-home power lunch.

Easy, Cheesy Ziti

Ingredients:

1 – 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
5 fresh tomatoes, diced or 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 – 14 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 – 6 oz can of tomato paste
2 zucchinis, diced (or as much as you’d like)
2 yellow squash, diced (or as much as you’d like)
1 onion, diced
1 lb bag of uncooked whole grain pasta (penne or ziti works best)
Salt and pepper for seasoning
Cayenne, if desired
Oregano, if desired
2 cups shredded low-fat mozzarella
1 cup shredded low-fat parmesan

1. Cook and drain the pasta al dente. (If the instructions say 10 minutes, boil it for 9 minutes instead.) Don’t forget to add salt to the water.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

3. Saute onions in olive oil until they’re soft and add the ground beef plus a little salt and pepper to taste. Once the beef is slightly brown, add the chopped zucchini, squash, and fresh tomatoes. Saute this for a little while longer until the vegetables soften. Add the tomato paste or pasta sauce and cook for 5 minutes until the meat mixture is hot. Season with salt, pepper, and a touch of cayenne (optional) and oregano (optional) to taste. The sauce should be about the consistency of a thin but chunky meat sauce. If the sauce is too watery, add a teaspoon of tomato paste to thicken.

4. Assemble the ingredients in a 13 x 9 pan. Spray your pan with cooking spray, then add a layer of pasta, followed by sauce, then top it with mozzarella cheese, and continue until your pan is brimming with deliciousness. After you add the last layer of mozzarella, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top which will brown nicely and give the ziti a nice flavor and color.

5. Put the pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes on 375 or until the cheese melts.

6. Let it cool for about 5-10 minutes, then enjoy!

Makes about 12 hearty servings. Approximately 400 calories* per serving.

* Calorie counts are my best estimate based on the ingredients I use. Please use this as an approximate guide only.

Margherita Pita Pizza

kim — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:53:45 +0000

I’ve always loved margherita pizza. Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Its ingredients are refreshingly simple, yet its taste unmatched.

Lately, I’ve tended to enjoy more margherita pita pizzas over my usual pineapple pita pizza because of my recently discovered green thumb. Let me explain. In May 2009, I got tired of paying a premium at the grocery store for two sprigs of basil so I decided to grow my own. It started out as a small 4 inch plant and now is taller than my 18 month old son. I can’t resist all that fresh basil, so the margherita pita pizza has become my new favorite.

Margherita Pita Pizza

Ingredients:

1 – 100% whole grain pita
2 tablespoons pasta sauce
3 slices of fresh mozzarella
3 slices of roma tomatoes
4 fresh basil leaves

1. Place the pita on the cookie sheet.

2. Spread tomato sauce on the pita and add the fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.

3. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

4. Top with fresh basil. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving. Approximately 315 calories* per serving.

* Calorie counts are my best estimate based on the ingredients I use. Please use this as an approximate guide only.

Pineapple Pita Pizza

kim — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:28:42 +0000

This is my husband’s favorite! He calls them mini pizzas and lights up when he finds out we’re having them for dinner.

Pineapple Pita Pizza

Ingredients:

1 – 100% whole grain pita
2 tablespoons pasta sauce
1/4 cup canned pineapple tidbits
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Place the pita on the cookie sheet.

2. Spread tomato sauce on the pita and add the pineapple.

3. Top everything off with cheese.

4. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving. Approximately 325 calories* per serving.

* Calorie counts are my best estimate based on the ingredients I use. Please use this as an approximate guide only.

Personal Pita Pizzas

kim — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:54:00 +0000

I serve personal pita pizzas to my family almost every other week. My husband’s favorite is the pineapple pita pizza and I love the margherita pita pizza. But, here are steps to discover your own favorite.

Personal Pita Pizzas

Ingredients:

100% Whole Grain Pitas – at least one for each person
Low-Fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Pasta Sauce
Favorite Pizza Toppings (It’s best if they’re cooked ingredients)

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. The hard part: Lay out your cookie sheets and ingredients.

3. The easy part: Let everyone make their own pizza.

4. With the pizzas on the cookie sheets, put them in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Kim’s Tip: Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper. Not only does it eliminate the need to use cooking spray, it reduces the number of calories – and who doesn’t love that? It also makes cleaning up a snap.

Note: I like to use a cookie sheet, but a pizza stone will work too.