Faux Fried Ravioli

If you ever have had fried Ravioli, you know how absolutely delicious they are!  Fried Ravioli is one of our favorite meals to order at any Italian restaurant, although it may not be the healthiest.  This is why we had a sudden inspiration to put our own take on fried Rav's and try baking them instead! These are super easy to make and will trick anyone into thinking they are deep fried and the real thing!  (We think these are even better than the real thing!  And it is even better that they are healthier!) So delish!

Ingredients:
1 package of your favorite Ravioli (We love Costco's Spinach and Cheese Ravioli)
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan 
2 egg whites
Olive oil
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce for dipping (We like Organic Muir Glen Tomato Basil Sauce- you may want 2 jars depending on how much dipping sauce you'd like) 


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  Bring a pot of water to a boil and add Raviolis.  Boil the Ravioli for about 5 minutes until slightly cooked but still firm or al dente.  While boiling, prepare two dishes for your dredging station.  In one bowl, add two egg whites and whip until frothy.  In the second bowl, combine the Italian bread crumbs and Parmesan.  Once Ravioli's are done, take off heat and carefully spoon them into a strainer.  Rinse under cool, slow running water just to slightly cool.  Take one Ravioli at a time and dip in egg whites.  Then thoroughly coat in bread crumb and cheese mixture and place on baking sheet.  Drizzle lightly with olive oil.  Cook in oven for 5 minutes and then turn on your broiler on high and broil until toasty and brown.  (While the Ravioli's are cooking, heat up the tomato sauce in a sauce pan.)  Eat and enjoy!! :)

Peg & Chelsea's Salad Pizza

Peg and Chelsea are not only our second family, but amazing cooks!  Like us, they like to eat and cook healthy which is why this creation of theirs is featured on our blog.  This salad pizza is great for a lunch, an appetizer, or a dinner.  Everyone, even the men in your family, will love and enjoy this tasty treat!

Ingredients:

1 package of pizza dough (We get ours from the frozen section in our grocery store- we get whole wheat if they have it!)

5 plum tomatoes, chopped and seeded

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

2 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar 

1 bag romaine lettuce 

1 TBS olive oil 

Parmesan cheese-optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Follow instructions on package and thaw pizza dough.  Take a cookie sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Carefully spread apart the dough to cover the bottom of the cookie sheet.  (If you want a yummy thick crust, leave the edges thicker than the middle.)  Pour the olive oil in a small bowl.  Take a pastry brush and spread the dough with olive oil.  (You most likely will not use a full tablespoon.  You just want a light cover.)  Chop and seed the tomatoes into small chunks and spread over the dough.  Slice the onion and spread over the pizza, as well.  Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is slightly golden brown.  While the pizza is baking, mince garlic and combine with balsamic vinegar in small bowl.  Rinse and dry the bag of romaine lettuce and place in large bowl.  Pour as much of the vinegar and garlic mixture you would like over the lettuce.  Take pizza out and sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the pizza.  Put back in the oven until the cheese is melted.   Once the cheese has melted, take out of the oven and slice the pizza into as many pieces as you would like.  Put a slice on a plate and scoop as much salad as you would like over the pizza.  If you would like, you can add shards or sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of the salad pizza.  Enjoy! :) 

Lasagna Rolls

When you are craving Italian food, because we all do, this is a great, healthy recipe to turn to.  These lasagna rolls are fairly easy to make and packed with not only delicious flavor, but tons of nutrition.  You will please everyone with this cheesy little roll ups.  

Ingredients:
10-12 uncooked lasagna noodles
1-2 jars of your favorite tomato sauce
1/2 tsp of ground pepper
3/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 10 oz package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 15 oz container of low fat ricotta cheese
2 cups of shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.  Boil the noodles until they are al dente (or not fully cooked).  Carefully drain so they do not break.  The noodles will be very fragile.  Lay out noodles on cookie sheet.  Spray a 13 x 9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Pour half of a jar of tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.  In a bowl, mix together spinach, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper.  Combine all ingredients until they are well incorporated.  Spoon about 2 TBS of the cheese and spinach mixture on to each noodle and spread evenly over noodle.  Start and one end and roll the lasagna noodle up until it is in a roll-up form.  Put seam down into sauced baking dish.  Once all roll-ups are settled in the dish, cover with remaining tomato sauce.  (Add as much of the sauce as you would like, depending on how saucy you like it- we like it saucy!)  Then, sprinkle sauced noodles with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.  Cover with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Uncover the baking dish and bake for 15 more minutes.  If you want a crunchy top like ours, turn the broiler on for the remaining 3-5 minutes.  Enjoy!
*Adding meat to this recipe would be an awesome addition, but remember meat adds more fat and calories.  This meal is delicious without it! :)

Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

Whether for lunch, a snack, or an appetizer before dinner, we make this healthy, delicious bruschetta at least once a week.  It is one of the simplest recipes, yet you will be surprised on how flavorful this little toast is.  We know that whoever you make this for, whether it is your friends, family, or just for yourself,  will be going back for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths.  Bon Appetit!  

Ingredients:

12 vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and chopped

2 TBS fresh basil, chopped

½ cup balsamic vinegar

sea salt and pepper, to taste

1 large Italian baguette
1 clove of garlic, chopped
2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

1 ball of mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:

Combine the chopped tomatoes, basil, vinegar, salt and pepper into a large bowl.  Stir and refrigerate to allow the flavors to marry.  Preheat the broiler and slice the baguette and mozzarella into thin slices.  Combine chopped garlic and olive oil and heat to infuse flavors.  Brush the slices of baguette lightly with the olive oil and garlic mixture.  (Make sure to get garlic pieces on each slice, to make it extra yummy!)  Top the slices of bread with the thin slices of mozzarella and arrange them onto a baking sheet.  Put the baking sheet under the broiler.  (Watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!)  Remove the bread once it is crisp and the cheese has melted.  Top the yummy bread with your desired amount of tomato mixture. 

*Making this recipe the day before lets the flavors marry and makes it even more delicious! :)