Quick & Tasty Italian
Posted on January 30, 2016 by bob in GPlenty
Busy weeknights can make for hectic meals, but these simple recipes prove you don’t have to trim out flavor or precious moments spent with family when you’re cutting minutes off your dinner prep time.
The secret to making quick meals your family will love is quality ingredients. Tasty meals are easy when you incorporate the wholesome flavor of all-natural ingredients you feel good about serving your family.
Rely on these additional tips to help save time with your weeknight dinner prep:
— When you’re exploring new time-saving recipes, consider both prep time and total cook time. Many dishes can be assembled in minutes, leaving you time to help tackle chores and homework before sitting down to dinner.
— Enlist backup when the prep time is a little longer. For example, an extra set of hands from a little helper can shave minutes off the assembly of this Eggplant Lasagna, while getting a youngster excited about digging into a veggie-centric dinner.
Eggplant Lasagna
Prep time: 50 minutes | Total time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Servings: 8
No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 large eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1/4-inch thick lengthwise slices
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 package (20 ounces) Italian-seasoned ground turkey
3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Heat oven to 350 F. Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning; set aside.
Heat grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with oil; sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. In batches, place eggplant on grill pan. Cook each side 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned and tender. Remove and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels; pat to remove excess moisture.
Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic; cook 2-3 minutes more or until onion is tender and turkey is crumbled and no longer pink. Drain. Add drained tomatoes, tomato paste and basil to skillet; stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes more.
Assemble lasagna by spreading 3/4 cup meat mixture over bottom of dish. Place 3 eggplant slices over meat mixture, top with 3/4 cup meat mixture, half of ricotta cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a layer of eggplant slices topped with meat mixture and remaining mozzarella cheese.
Spray underside of aluminum foil with cooking spray; cover dish tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Easy Chicken Parmesan
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 pounds total)
3/4 pound spaghetti, uncooked
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Heat oven to 375 F.
Pour tomato sauce and undrained tomatoes into 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Stir in 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) Parmesan. Add chicken; turn to evenly coat both sides of each breast with sauce. Cover.
Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center (165 F). Meanwhile, cook spaghetti as directed on package, omitting salt.
Top chicken with remaining cheeses; bake, uncovered, 5 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. Drain spaghetti. Serve topped with chicken and sauce.
Courtesy: Family Features. Source: Hunt’s
