Labor Day weekend traditionally means backyard barbeques, picnics in the park or cookouts at the beach. However, not all holiday potlucks require firing up the grill.
This Sunday our family has been invited to a weekend get-together, but I am not planning to bring along brats, hamburgers or hot dogs to add to the holiday buffet. Rather, I am planning to make the following recipes that can be made ahead of time and travel well. They may not scream “end of the summer BBQ,” but they will add a bit of spice to seasonal staples.
PIZZA CASSEROLE
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons garlic salt
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 jars (28 ounces each) spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup water
1 box (16 ounces) Penne pasta, cooked and drained
4 cups mozzarella cheese
6 ounces sliced pepperoni
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 roll (8-ounce) breadsticks
Directions:
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is crumbly and no longer pink. Drain any grease.
Season ground beef with garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
Stir in spaghetti sauce, water and pasta.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place pasta mixture into a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with mozzarella cheese. Arrange pepperoni slices over mozzarella and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove breadstick dough from can and separate into individual strips. Fold each strip in half and twist.
Remove casserole from oven and place twisted dough around edges of baking dish.
Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes more or until casserole is bubbly and breadsticks are golden brown.
APPLE PIE PIZZA
Ingredients:
1 can refrigerated pizza dough
4 cups finely chopped apples
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Caramel sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Place dough on a pizza pan.
In a bowl, combine apples, sugar, butter, lemon juice and cinnamon. Spread over pizza dough.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until crust is golden and apples are tender.
Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
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