Bake the Base

Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or make your own, you’ll need to ensure that it is well-coated in oil and baked in the oven until it becomes puffy and rises. Make sure to keep checking on your base and ensure that it remains flat and that it doesn’t become too oily. Blot out any areas where there is too much moisture.

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A post shared by Michele and Joe Becci (@ouritaliantable)

Prep the Toppings

Once your base is ready, set it aside to cool for around 20 to 30 minutes. Then, cut some squash into spirals and grate your mozzarella cheese. Cut up some slices of salami and pour one and a quarter cups of pizza sauce into a jug or container so you can pour it later.

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Time to Put it All Together

Take a spoon and spread the sauce evenly across the pizza base. Once you have the amount of sauce you want, sprinkle the cheese evenly before adding your slices of squash and salami. Finally, bake the pizza until the bottom is golden brown and enjoy.

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The post How You Can Make an Authentic Sicilian Pizza at Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

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A post shared by Rude Awakening TV – Chef (@rudeawakeningtv)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups full fat cottage cheese
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cups baby Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, and onion in a large, deep sauce pan. Cook over medium high heat, breaking apart the meat with a spatula, until no pink remains.
3. Drain any excess fat off the pan, then stir in the garlic, marinara sauce, oregano, salt and pepper. Heat through, then then reduce the heat to low, allowing the sauce to simmer. 
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt and swirl of oil. Add the noodles to the pot and cook for about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain noodles, then lay them out on aluminum foil. 
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside.
6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the pan and top with 4 noodles laid lengthwise. Spread half the cheese on top, followed by 4 more noodles. Spread half of the remaining sauce over the noodles, and then spread all of the cottage cheese mixture on top of the sauce, followed by 3 more noodles. Finish with the remaining sauce and cheese.
7. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned.

The post Cottage Cheese Will Make Your Lasagna Even Lovelier appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Four Cheese Ravioli

Get your hands on some ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, and provolone cheese, and pack them inside each piece of ravioli. Whip up a garlic, pesto, and cream sauce, and watch as your dinner guests marvel as they bite into their ravioli and discover a cheese explosion.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Here, you’ll combine two Italian classics to make a unique-tasting blend. All you need for this dish is frozen ravioli, your pasta sauce of choice, and grated mozzarella. Place the ravioli at the base of the tray and layer the cheese and pasta sauce on top.

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A post shared by rachel (@rachlmansfield)

Neopolitan Pizza

While New York-style pizza has become mainstream, Neopolitan pizza is the traditional style pioneered in the Italian city of Naples. Start by needing the pizza dough, making sure that the edges are puffy. Add some Napolitana or Pomodoro sauce or any other tomato-based sauce that takes your fancy and spread it finely across the base, avoiding the puffy edges of the dough. Add mozzarella or buffalo cheese, or even a combination, and cut the pieces into large circles as opposed to grating them.

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A post shared by Monica Forgione (@monica.forgione)

The post Dishes To Bring The Taste Of Italy To Your Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 fresh basil leaves
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
• 150 g grated parmesan cheese
• 30 g pine nuts

Instructions

1. In a food processor, place the basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese and process for about 2 minutes until all the ingredients are finely minced.
2. Continue processing while slowly drizzling the olive oil into the mixture until it becomes very smooth.
3. Add in the pine nuts and mix well. Keep refrigerated in a glass jar for up to 7 days. Enjoy.

The post How to Make Homemade Pesto appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb ziti
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 chopped medium onion
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 c fresh ricotta
• 1/2 c grated parmesan
• 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 c shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Set the oven to 350 F degrees and prepare a baking dish.
2. Get a pot and fill it with water, add a little salt. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta.
3. Cook it al dente, then remove the water.
4. Heat the oil in a pan, and once hot cook the onion for 5 minutes. When the onion becomes soft, include the red pepper flakes and garlic.
5. Cook for 1 more minute before adding the meat, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 6 more minutes.
6. Add the oregano and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Include the crushed tomatoes, more salt, and pepper to the mix. Wait for the sauce to start simmering, and cook it for 15 to 20 minutes on low heat. When it’s done, add the basil.
8. In a bowl combine the pasta, sauce, and ricotta. Add one half of the mix in the baking dish, top it off with mozzarella and parmesan. Add the rest of the pasta, then top it off again with mozzarella and parmesan.
9. Cook the ziti for 20 to 25 minutes.

The post Ziti Bake is Perfect For Pasta Lovers appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Bake the Base

Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or make your own, you’ll need to ensure that it is well-coated in oil and baked in the oven until it becomes puffy and rises. Make sure to keep checking on your base and ensure that it remains flat and that it doesn’t become too oily. Blot out any areas where there is too much moisture.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michele and Joe Becci (@ouritaliantable)

Prep the Toppings

Once your base is ready, set it aside to cool for around 20 to 30 minutes. Then, cut some squash into spirals and grate your mozzarella cheese. Cut up some slices of salami and pour one and a quarter cups of pizza sauce into a jug or container so you can pour it later.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pina’s Kitchen (@pinaskitchen__)

Time to Put it All Together

Take a spoon and spread the sauce evenly across the pizza base. Once you have the amount of sauce you want, sprinkle the cheese evenly before adding your slices of squash and salami. Finally, bake the pizza until the bottom is golden brown and enjoy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ooni (@oonihq)

The post How You Can Make an Authentic Sicilian Pizza at Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rude Awakening TV – Chef (@rudeawakeningtv)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups full fat cottage cheese
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cups baby Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, and onion in a large, deep sauce pan. Cook over medium high heat, breaking apart the meat with a spatula, until no pink remains.
3. Drain any excess fat off the pan, then stir in the garlic, marinara sauce, oregano, salt and pepper. Heat through, then then reduce the heat to low, allowing the sauce to simmer. 
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt and swirl of oil. Add the noodles to the pot and cook for about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain noodles, then lay them out on aluminum foil. 
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside.
6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the pan and top with 4 noodles laid lengthwise. Spread half the cheese on top, followed by 4 more noodles. Spread half of the remaining sauce over the noodles, and then spread all of the cottage cheese mixture on top of the sauce, followed by 3 more noodles. Finish with the remaining sauce and cheese.
7. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned.

The post Cottage Cheese Will Make Your Lasagna Even Lovelier appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Four Cheese Ravioli

Get your hands on some ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, and provolone cheese, and pack them inside each piece of ravioli. Whip up a garlic, pesto, and cream sauce, and watch as your dinner guests marvel as they bite into their ravioli and discover a cheese explosion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @thefeedfeed

Ravioli Lasagna

Here, you’ll combine two Italian classics to make a unique-tasting blend. All you need for this dish is frozen ravioli, your pasta sauce of choice, and grated mozzarella. Place the ravioli at the base of the tray and layer the cheese and pasta sauce on top.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by rachel (@rachlmansfield)

Neopolitan Pizza

While New York-style pizza has become mainstream, Neopolitan pizza is the traditional style pioneered in the Italian city of Naples. Start by needing the pizza dough, making sure that the edges are puffy. Add some Napolitana or Pomodoro sauce or any other tomato-based sauce that takes your fancy and spread it finely across the base, avoiding the puffy edges of the dough. Add mozzarella or buffalo cheese, or even a combination, and cut the pieces into large circles as opposed to grating them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Monica Forgione (@monica.forgione)

The post Dishes To Bring The Taste Of Italy To Your Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 fresh basil leaves
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
• 150 g grated parmesan cheese
• 30 g pine nuts

Instructions

1. In a food processor, place the basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese and process for about 2 minutes until all the ingredients are finely minced.
2. Continue processing while slowly drizzling the olive oil into the mixture until it becomes very smooth.
3. Add in the pine nuts and mix well. Keep refrigerated in a glass jar for up to 7 days. Enjoy.

The post How to Make Homemade Pesto appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb ziti
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 chopped medium onion
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 c fresh ricotta
• 1/2 c grated parmesan
• 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 c shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Set the oven to 350 F degrees and prepare a baking dish.
2. Get a pot and fill it with water, add a little salt. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta.
3. Cook it al dente, then remove the water.
4. Heat the oil in a pan, and once hot cook the onion for 5 minutes. When the onion becomes soft, include the red pepper flakes and garlic.
5. Cook for 1 more minute before adding the meat, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 6 more minutes.
6. Add the oregano and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Include the crushed tomatoes, more salt, and pepper to the mix. Wait for the sauce to start simmering, and cook it for 15 to 20 minutes on low heat. When it’s done, add the basil.
8. In a bowl combine the pasta, sauce, and ricotta. Add one half of the mix in the baking dish, top it off with mozzarella and parmesan. Add the rest of the pasta, then top it off again with mozzarella and parmesan.
9. Cook the ziti for 20 to 25 minutes.

The post Ziti Bake is Perfect For Pasta Lovers appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.