Pizza Bites

These pizza bites couldn't be any easier and were a big hit as an appetizer for a party.  You basically take pizza dough (I bought mine at the Italian grocery store) and divide it into 20-25 pieces.  Spread each piece out a bit, stuff with cheese and pepperoni, seal it up and put it in a pan sealed side down.  Then you brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasonings and parmesean cheese.  Finally you bake it in the oven at 400 for 20 min.  Then they pull apart very easily.  Yum!

Pepperoni Bread How To

Pepperoni bread is pretty simple to make and a great appetizer for an outdoor party (can be eaten hot, room temp or cold).

Roll out your dough to a long rectangular shape.
I get my dough from a local pizza shop.

My secret is that I add a very thin layer of marinara sauce.

Add the pepperoni.

Add mozzarella and parmesan cheese and roll up.

If it's too long for your baking sheet, wrap it around.
Brush olive oil on the top, sprinkle with parmesan cheese
and add a few slits to vent.

Bake on 400 for 30 min with foil covering,
remove foil and bake for 5-10 more minutes.

Slice and enjoy!

Dinner Series: Chicken Florentine Style

Do yourself a favor and make this!
This was amazing, and pretty easy also.
Recipe here: 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-florentine-style-recipe/index.html
I did not change anything.

Chicken Madeira

What's for dinner tonight?  How about something new to try that is easy and delicious?  

Chicken Madeira - Cheesecake Factory Knockoff (serves 2)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 boneless chicken breast
8 asparagus spears
2 slices mozzarella cheese

Sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
1.5 cups Madeira wine (I used dry)
1 cup beef stock
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in frying pan over medium-high heat. Saute fillets until done and browned just a bit. Remove from pan and wrap in foil to keep warm while you make the sauce.

In chicken pan add olive oil and sliced mushrooms; saute for about 2 minutes. Add Madeira wine, beef stock, butter, and pepper. Bring to boil then reduce heat simmer 20 minutes until reduce to about 1/2 original volume. When sauce is done it will be thick, and brown.

While sauce is reducing, bring a pan of water to boil. Add salt to water at boil; blanch asparagus (3-5 minutes). Drop asparagus in ice water to halt cooking.

Set oven to broil. In baking dish arrange chicken, cross 2 asparagus stems over each piece of chicken and top with a slice of cheese. Broil until cheese melts.

Put chicken on plate. To serve, top with sauce 3-4 Tbsp on each piece.