Italian lunch/30 recipes

This is my copycat of the popular salad sold at McDonald's. It's the only thing I eat off their menu and I was anxious to replicate it at home.

I let the roast sit at room temperature 20-30 minutes before placing in the oven. Also, make sure the oven heats up to 500 for a good 20 minutes before roasting meat.

Made popular by southern Italians in New York city restaurants this dish is based upon old-world family recipes. Here I've adjusted it to two hearty servings.

My 14 year old said "pretty good" much better than a plain ham sandwich.

TVP gives the lasagna beefy texture, the tomato sauce makes the lasagna juicy and flavorful; ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses add the creaminess and cheesiness . An absolutely delicious vegetarian lasagna that your meat lover friends may ask for second slice.

A long slow simmer makes this cheesy rich crowd pleaser a certain hit when company is coming.

Don't start the barbecue just yet! Try this mouthwatering stew that warms you up after every bite.

If you're in a hurry, then try this simple recipe that creates a savory chili that will satisfy your hunger in no time!

A delicious casserole made with italian sausage, zucchini, rice and parmigiano-reggiano cheese.

These lacy potato latkes are baked in a muffin pan instead of fried in a pan which helps avoid extra fat from the frying oil. The basil and garlic result in great pesto style flavor perfect for potatoes.

Skip the expensive store-bought overly salty salad dressing mix and make your own using ingredients found in most pantries. Perfect for a low-salt ranch dressing.

Italian salad dressing from scratch. Quick, easy and tasty. No need to buy store-bought bottled dressing; within 5 minutes you will have this delicious Italian herb dressing that goes well with any kind of salad.

Skip store-bought packets and make your own Italian dressing mix that will keep in the pantry for up to a year.

This recipe is based on the one from Jean Christoph Novelli's grandmother Louise's recipe. He call's it "The Most Amazing Tomato Sauce on the planet" I agree. This is not the exact recipe (I tweaked it very slightly and made some educated guesses on the amounts of various ingredients but based upon the taste I believe it is probably very close.

Simple and basic

A simply delicious meal for busy week-days or a cozy dish on the weekends. Layers of yummy flavor and can be served with any pasta.