Manicotti

3 C spaghetti sauce
1 box manicotti noodles
3 C ricotta cheese
2 C mozzarella cheese
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 T parsley
3/4 tsp. oregano

  Boil noodles for 8 minutes and drain.  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Spread layer of spaghetti sauce in bottom of pan.  Stuff shells with cheese mix; cover with remaining sauce.  Bake, covered with foil, at 375 degrees for 30 minutes; uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until bubbly throughout.  Then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.  Put back in oven until cheese melts.

Baked Gemelli with Pesto, Mozzarella and Meat Sauce

Serves 6-8
~
16 oz. Gemelli or other pasta (spiral, macaroni, shells)
1 T cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C pesto sauce
1 1/2 C mozzarella cheese, grated
1/4 C Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Oil a 9x13 baking dish.  Cook onion in oil for about 3 minutes.  Add ground beef, cook and drain.  Add the tomatoes and salt and bring to a simmer.  Cook until most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes.  Remove pan from heat and stir in pesto sauce.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions.  Toss with the meat sauce.  Put half the pasta in the baking dish.  Top with half of the mozzarella and 2 T of the Parmesan.  Repeat with the remaining pasta, mozzarella, and Parmesan.  Bake until bubbling, about 15 minutes.

~VLS

Gluten Free Pizza

This gluten free pizza recipe is loaded with ground beef, sauce, and cheese.  No matter which flavor you choose, the toppings perfectly compliment the rice crust.

Pizza is a staple of most American lives.  Anyone on a gluten free diet knows how hard it can be to find a gluten free pizza recipe that is both healthy and delicious.  Often, the problem lies in the flavor or the texture of the crust.

The beauty of this gluten free pizza is that the rice pizza crust is both easy to make and fun to eat.  It uses no flour at all, yet the rice holds the gluten free toppings well.  Making the recipe with brown rice instead of white rice will greatly increase the nutritional benefits while lending the rice pizza a slightly nutty, earthy flavor.

This is one of the best ground beef recipes due to it's simplicity.  It is a complete family meal that is high in nutrition and flavor.  You can easily customize it to your personal tastes and preferences by adding ingredients like pepperoni or sundried tomato.  Try adding shredded carrot to the sauce mixture for a nutritional boost your famly won't even know about. 

RICE PIZZA CRUST:
3 C cooked brown rice
2 eggs
1/2 C Mozzerella or Cheddar cheese
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together and press firmly into a large pie pan or baking dish.
Bake for 20 minutes.

TRADITIONAL FLAVOR GLUTEN FREE PIZZA:
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 C chopped onion
2- 8oz. cans tomato sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt
1 C shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet, brown beeg and onion, drain.
Add sauce and spices and simmer to reduce the liquid and blend the flavors, about 10 minutes.
Pour into prepared rice pizza crust and top with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

SPICY ITALIAN GLUTEN FREE PIZZA:
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage
1/3 C chopped onion
1/4 C chopped green pepper
2 cloves minced garlic
2- 8oz. cans tomato sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. fennel seed
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt
1 C shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet, brown beef, Italian sausage, onion, green pepper, and garlic, drain.
Add sauce and spices and simmer to reduce the liquid and blend the falvors, about 10 minutes.
Pour into prepared rice pizza crust and top with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.
Let stand 10 mintues before serving.

Whether you make Gluten Free Rice Pizza the traditional or Spicy Italian way, you are sure to have a meal the whole family will enjoy!

VLS