Baked Ziti (with Sausage)

1 lb ziti pasta

1 lb FRESH mozzerella cheese - 1/2 cut into 1/2 inch cubes, other 1/2 thinly sliced

3/4 cup parmesan cheese, divided

1/2 tsp pepper Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

2 TBS olive oil

1 lb italian sausage

1/4 med onion diced

3 cloves garlic

3 1/2 cups whole peeled canned tomatoes in puree if you can find it at store (which is 1 28 oz can whole peeled canned tomatoes that you chop roughly)

Sprig of fresh thyme (I just did 3/4 tsp thyme spice)

Sprig of fresh basil (I just did 3/4 tsp basil spice)

2 tsp Kosher salt

-DIRECTIONS Cook pasta according to package directions. In the meantime, heat oil and brown sausage. Add garlic, onion, chopped canned tomatoes with juices, thyme and basil. Toss cooked pasta with tomato sauce, add pepper, 1/2 of parmesan, the cubed mozzerella and transfer to a greased 9x13 dish. Cover top with other 1/2 of parmesan cheese and thinly sliced mozzerella. Bake at 400 for 30 min.

Pancakes

Got this from my sister and it is amazing with her liquid gold syrup!
1 egg, beaten with a fork
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp oil
big squirt of vanilla
2 TBS sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

-Mix all ingredients, cook on heated skillet.

Liquid Gold Syrup

1 cube butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

-Bring butter, sugar, buttermilk and soda to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil one minute. Remove from heat. Add flavoring and serve.

Turkey with Pecan-Cherry Stuffing

I made this meal on Sunday and it was sooooo yummy! It has great flavor and adds a fun twist to Turkey and is cooked in the crockpot! 

1 fresh or frozen boneless turkey breast (about 3-4 lbs.)

2 cups cooked rice

1/3 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries 

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/4 cup peach, apricot, or plum preserves

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. Thaw turkey breast if frozen. Remove skin and discard. Cut slices three-fourths of the way through turkey at 1-inch intervals

2. Stir together rice, pecans, cherries, and poultry seasoning in large bowl. Stuff rice mixture between slices. If necessary, skewer turkey lengthwise to hold it together.

3. Place turkey in crockpot; cook for 5-6 hours or until turkey registers 170 degrees on meat thermometer.

4. Stir together preserves and worcestershire sauce. spoon over turkey. cover; let stand for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Dip

1 small can pumpkin
1 large container cool whip
1 package instant vanilla pudding (powder only)
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients together. Do not add milk to the pudding, just use the powder. Serve with graham cracker sticks (I can only find the scooby doo ones). This is a yummy, light and easy fall treat!