Italian Pepperoni Bites

Do you have any recipes that you have had forever, but have forgotten about them??  This is one of those!  I cut this recipe out of a magazine YEARS ago and haven't made it in forever!  I'm so glad I stumbled across it because I forgot how yummy and easy it was!!  I think these are intended to be an appetizer, but I make them a little bigger and we eat them for dinner.  Either way, try them!  They won't disappoint!!

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Italian Pepperoni Bites

1 package (3.5 oz) sliced pepperoni, chopped

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 tomato, chopped

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp prepared pesto

2 packages (10 oz each) refrigerated flaky biscuits

Preheat oven to 350.  In bowl, combine pepperoni, cheese, tomato, mayonnaise, and pesto.

 (Now, the original recipe says to cut each biscuit in half and to use a mini muffin pan, but I don't cut them in half and use a regular muffin pan.)  Place biscuits into greased muffin cups, pressing gently to fit cups.  Spoon 1 tablespoon (more if you are doing regular cups) into each cup.  Bake 20 - 25 minutes.  Serve warm.

How good do they look???  :)

You can serve them as an appetizer, or throw a salad together and have them for dinner.  They are SO GOOD!!!  Enjoy!  :)

Oklahoma Breakfast Pizza

If you have family in town for Christmas and need to make a great breakfast that is different from your standard breakfast casserole, give this a try!!  This came from my Dad and it did not disappoint.  He actually cut it out of the Oklahoma newspaper of all places. It is so good and the best part is you can eat it with your hands!  :)

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Oklahoma Breakfast Pizza

1 package Shawnee Mills pizza crust mix (I used a Pillsbury roll out crust)

8 Pork Sausage Patties (I used Jimmy Dean HOT sausage instead)

1 cup diced bell pepper

1 cup frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

4 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I just used all mozzarella)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven to 400.  Press pizza dough into pizza pan and set aside.  Brown sausage and bell pepper, drain, and set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with milk.

Spread sausage and bell peppers over pizza crust. 

 Top with thawed potatoes.

 Sprinkle with cheese and then carefully pour egg mixture over the sausage and cheese.

 Bake at 400 for 20-35  minutes.  Sprinkle with cooked and crumbled bacon.

(I will say that the edges of my crust got pretty brown, so half way through baking, I put foil around the edges of my pan to stop the edges from getting too dark.)

Yummy...this is SO GOOD!!!!  Enjoy!  :)

Rustic Chicken Pizza

This is a recipe that I got from my friend Brittney a few years ago and it has been a favorite of ours ever since!  It is SO DELISH and EASY!!!  If you want pizza, but not just boring pepperoni, give this a try!

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Rustic Chicken Pizza

1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated classic pizza crust

1/2 cup ranch dressing

2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (I season and bake two chicken breasts and then thinly slice it instead)

1 box frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain (I use fresh spinach leaves instead)

1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese  (I always just use the whole container!)

3 plum tomatoes, sliced

Heat oven to 400.  Lightly spray 12 inch pizza pan with cooking spray.  Unroll pizza crust dough; place in pan.  Starting at center, press out dough with hands to edge of pan.  Bake crust about 6 minutes or until crust begins to dry.  Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix dressing and Parmesan cheese.  Remove partially baked crust from oven.  Spread dressing mixture over crust.  Top with chicken and spinach.  Sprinkle with Asiago cheese.  Top with tomatoes.

 Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

SO, SO good!!!  Enjoy!  :)

Pizza Quesadillas & Quick Marinara Sauce

I love cooking fun, and even sometimes fancy meals. But, I have a few standard go-to meals that are quick, yummy, and a hit with my little guy. Pizza quesadillas are one of those meals. I make his with pepperoni and cheese and add more goodies for my husband and I. Quick, easy, delish! I recently found a Quick Marinara Sauce from Skinny Taste that made this dish even better!! It is SO GOOD...tastes like you picked it up to go from your favorite Italian restaurant. So, make some pizza quesadillas and get to dipping!! :)

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Pizza Quesadillas

tortillas

mozzarella cheese

pepperoni & other toppings of your choice

cooking spray

Quick Marinara Sauce

1 tsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, smashed (I used my garlic press)

1, 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 small bay leaf (I left this out...didn't have any)

1 tsp oregano

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

salt and fresh pepper to taste

For your quesadillas, layer your cheese, pepperonis (and other toppings) and more cheese.

Top with second tortilla and place in sprayed pan. Cook on medium until the bottom tortilla is slightly brown and the cheese is beginning to melt. Flip and repeat.
Cut in quarters to serve. Yummy!!!

For the marinara sauce, heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium pot. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, basil and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer about 20 minutes.

I'm telling you, this sauce is fantastic and the quesadillas were so good dipped in it!!! Enjoy! :)

Pepperoni Roll Ups

A few years ago, my friend Aurora told me about this great little snack/appetizer/dinner/lunch...you get the idea. You can have it for whatever! I sometimes make this with a great big salad and we have it for dinner. It takes all of about 5 minutes to prepare and they are always a big hit!

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Pepperoni Roll Ups

Crescent Rolls

Pepperoni

String Cheese

Ranch/Marinara Sauce

(You can make as many or as few as you like.)

Separate the crescent rolls into triangles. Place 4-5 pepperonis on each triangle and top with half a string cheese. Roll up and bring up sides to seal. (Sorry about my gross looking cookie sheet...it is clearly time for a new one!)

Bake according to directions on crescent roll package.
Yummy!!

I always serve these with a side of ranch and marinara and they promptly get gobbled up. Enjoy! :)

Margherita Pita Pizzas

OH. MY. GOODNESS. I have a new favorite recipe right here!! I cut this out of a magazine a few weeks ago and forgot about it. I'm SO HAPPY that I rediscovered it and decided to make it. These are incredible easy and SO SO GOOD!

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Margherita Pita Pizzas

4 pita breads

2 tsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups (8 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

3 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Thinly sliced fresh basil

Place pita breads on an ungreased baking sheet; brush with oil.

Top with garlic, 1 cup cheese, tomatoes, garlic powder and remaining cheese; sprinkle with Italian seasoning. (I made one pepperoni for my son.)
Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top with basil if desired.

Seriously, these are amazing! I loved them, my husband devoured them, and my son loved his personal pepperoni pizza. I see A LOT of these in our future! Enjoy!

French Bread Pizza

This is one of those go-to recipes if you know you have a busy night and need to get dinner ready QUICK. It is from one of my Cooking Light cook books and I love it not only because it is so quick, but you can customize each piece for the people you are making it for. LOVE that now that I have a child who doesn't want sauce on his pizza!!

French Bread Pizza

1 loaf French bread

Cooking spray

1 cup marinara sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Pizza toppings of YOUR choice!

Preheat oven to 450 and line baking sheet with foil.

Cut bread in half horizontally and vertically to form 4 pieces.
Coat cut sides of bread with cooking spray; place bread, cut sides up on a baking sheet and bake at 450 for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned.

Spread marinara or pizza sauce on each bread quarter.

Top with cheese and toppings of your choice.

Bake at 450 for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Yep, it is that easy!! Yummy too I might add...enjoy! :)