Summer Sausage and Cheese Pie

This is a super yummy yet simple savory pie.  This recipe comes from my friend Natalie, and I knew I had to make it when I saw her post a picture of it on Facebook one day.  Boy is it ever good!  Who knew that summer sausage, muenster cheese, and eggs would be so divine together.   The bonus is my super picky 4 year old gave me the best compliment ever while eating this meal.  He said:  "Mommy, this is the best meal EVER!"...I'll take it!

Here is what you will need...(Again, blessed to live near Wisconsin where good sausage and cheese abound!)  I also used refrigerated pie shells out of convenience, but feel free to make your own homemade if you want.

Unwrap your sausage.  I also halved it so it was easier to slice.

Slice it into quarter inch pieces...

Place one pie shell in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate, and place half of the sausage slices on the bottom...

Next, layer half of your cheese that is also sliced...

Repeat layers on more time with the remaining sausage and cheese...

Whisk together 7 eggs, and the yolk of the 8th egg.  Save the white of the 8th egg to brush on top of the pie. Then gently pour the eggs over the cheese and sausage layers...

After you place the top pie layer and crimp the edges together, brush the top of the pie with the egg white.

Cut some slices in the top of the pie for venting.  Here is my attempt of a "flower"...ha.  I have also carved our name on the top too...make it fun! :)

Bake it at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes...(I have found that it takes the full hour in my oven.)

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then slice and enjoy!

Serve with a nice salad for a great meal...

Summer Sausage and Cheese Pie

12 oz. Summer Sausage, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 lb. of Muenster Cheese, sliced
8 Eggs, divided (White of 8th egg saved for brushing on top.)
2 Pie Shells (Pre-made refrigerated or homemade!)

Start by placing one pie shell in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Place half of the sausage on the bottom of the pie.  Then layer half of the cheese slices.  Repeat layer with remaining sausage and cheese.  Beat your eggs, and gently pour over the sausage and cheese layers.  Place the top layer of pie shell over the pie and crimp the edges to seal.  Brush top of pie with lightly beaten egg white.  Cut slits on top of pie to vent.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes (Usually takes the full hour).  I also put the pie on a pan in the oven in case there is "overflow".  Let it sit for 5-10 minutes after baking before slicing.

Enjoy!

Gnocchi with Tomato Pancetta Sauce

This is an incredible sauce.  I discovered it years ago when we were first married and living in Phoenix, AZ.  I was watching a lot of Food Network at the time, and there used to be a little show called "Calling All Cooks" where they went to homes of regular viewers, who were good cooks,  who made a recipe they were known for.  I remember watching this episode, and thinking this sauce sounded amazing.  I also remember barely knowing what pancetta was at the time, or where to even find it!  It is now a favorite of mine to start any good sauce, stew, etc. with.  Pancetta is usually located in the deli section of your grocery store (if you have a good decent sized deli), or in pre-sliced  packages with other deli meat.  It is Italian rolled/cured bacon if you will, and it is delicious!  If you absolutely can't find pancetta, regular bacon can be used as a substitute, but it really is SO much better with pancetta!  I have made a few modifications from the original recipe such as more garlic (duh!), and only use one can of tomatoes...

Now, the original recipe calls for you to make your potato gnocchi from scratch.  I did do that the first few times, and it is incredible.  That was before 2 kids, and before I lived near the Chicago area where good pre-made gnocchi is available in most our grocery stores freezer section.  (Sometimes you can find it in the pasta aisle, or fresh, but I think the frozen is best.)  If you make your gnocchi from scratch, you also need a potato ricer, so be aware of that.  I don't want to discourage you from making your own gnocchi, like I said, they are incredible made fresh from scratch, but plan your time accordingly if you do. :)

Let's make the sauce...here is what you will need...  (I doubled the recipe the day I made this so I could bring some to my in-laws.)

Here is how I found the pancetta and gnocchi at my local store...

Also essential to this recipe is good "Italian" peeled tomatoes...here are three varieties I found to show you...

Dice up your pancetta...

Mince up a ton of garlic...

Finely chop some Italian flat leaf parsley...

Dump your canned tomatoes into a large bowl...

Then gently squeeze each by hand... (Yes, I know you can do this in a food processor, but I think doing it by hand in this recipe gives it that rustic "Old World" feel to it!)

Here are your "hand" crushed tomatoes...

Place enough olive oil in the bottom of your pan to just cover the bottom.  You don't want to drown the sauce in the oil, but it does require more than just a tablespoon or two.   Heat the oil over medium heat til it is very hot and shimmery, but not smoking...

Add in your pancetta, parsley, and red pepper flakes.  Yes, I know it is weird to add your fresh herb at this point, but the original recipes says, to, and it works!  It must infuse the oil with all it's flavor...

When the pancetta is starting to turn brown, add in the garlic and cook for another minute or so...

Next, dump in the tomatoes and give it a good stir...  The original recipe says to add salt now to taste.  I have found that if you do it now, the end product is way to salty.  So just let it simmer on the stove for 1 to 3 hours now, to reduce down, and marry the flavors.  Add a little salt to taste at the end if desired.

Cook your gnocchi according to package direction at top with the sauce and freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired...

Oh my, heavenly!!!

Gnocchi with Tomato Pancetta Sauce

8 Slices of bacon thickness Pancetta (or a 4 oz. package) diced
1/2 to 3/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (to taste)
1/4 Cup Fresh Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
6 to 8 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 (28 oz.) Can of Italian Peeled Tomatoes, "hand" crushed
Olive Oil (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup)
Salt to taste
2  (16 oz.) Bags of Frozen Potato Gnocchi (or homemade!)

Heat your olive oil over medium heat in a large sauce pan until hot, but not smoking.  Add in your pancetta, parsley, and red pepper flakes, and cook until the pancetta begins to brown and is about 90% cooked.  Add in your garlic, and cook for another minute or two.  Next, add in your tomatoes, and give it a good stir.  Simmer sauce over low heat for 1 to 3 hours, stirring on occasion.  Add salt to taste at end of cooking if desired.

Cook your gnocchi according to package directions.  Serve gnocchi with  sauce, and some freshly grated parmesan.  Enjoy!

New Years Eve

What a blast it was to celebrate on New Years Eve with our Life Group friends from Church.  It was an awesome party, and the kids had a blast as well.  We didn't make it all the way to midnight (we were pushing it staying to 11pm with the boys), but Chris and I were up at home to ring in the new year.  Chris and I also celebrated 14 years of being engaged as well.  Good times...


Found some fun printables online and made hats and bottle labels...

M modeling one of the hats...

14 years!

Family pic... (Will we ever get one with J sitting still??) ;)

The kids had so much fun dancing...

The ladies...

My friend Natalie and me...

Funny video of some of the dancing...


Happy New Year everyone!! :)

Christmas Day 2012

They boys and I (since Chris was on day 2 of a 3 day trip at this point), had a great Christmas Day celebrating with the entire Doherty clan at my SIL's house.  There were plenty of great appetizers, and it was total Christmas mayhem when 25+ people all were opening gifts at once.  Talk about chaos!  But it was fun... :)

The boys opening their stockings... (We left those for Christmas morning.)

M got some cool Lego "minifigure" crayons in his stocking...

The boys and I on Christmas...

M getting his much desired watch from Aunt Linda...

The boys with cousin Anna...

M was sooo happy to get these books...he has studied them daily ever since!

The wild time opening gifts...

Jacob and 2nd cousin Ainsley...they are 1 day apart in age!

J having fun with a gift...

This picture just cracks me up...so typical! :)

Singing "Gloria!"...

Merry Christmas!!

A Christmas Eve Day "Christmas"!

As an airline family, we know not to expect that Chris will have Christmas off, EVER.  Well, maybe someday when he is super senior (yeah, like that is going to happen anytime soon).  So we learn to adjust, and have Christmas as a family as his schedule allows.  We knew late in the day on the 23rd, that he had a late afternoon starting 3 day trip on the 24th...what do do!?!  We had Christmas with our boys on the morning of the 24th before he left for work.  It was actually very nice just to have our little family together to celebrate.  I even knew the night before so I ended up whipping up this casserole and baked it that morning...holy smokes yummy!

Our Best Bites "Overnight Baked French Toast"...

I had one cooperative boy for pictures...isn't he cute!?!

This was how most pictures were going when we asked J to sit by M...

Brilliant idea...use cookies as motivation to sit for a picture...

Bingo!  But wait, cookie mouth! ;)

Cuties...

Just look at that grin...

M LOVED his new Star Wars light saber...

J loves anything car...

Having fun with their Christmas loot...