Pizza Sauce

This is a great recipe. Use it any time you need pizza sauce, with pizza, calzones, pizza dip, whatever you need sauce for.

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce or use 2 (8 ounce) cans
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese (you can also use grated Parmesan cheese)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sweet basil (optional)
3/4 teaspoon crushed oregano
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Mix in jar or similar container (Not aluminum). Shake or stir well. Let marinate in refrigerator at least six to eight hours. Remove bay leaf before using.

Most often I make just half the recipe, except for the pizza dip (You need the whole recipe for that.). It makes enough for a good sized pizza or calzone.

Italian Chicken and Tortellini

Easy dinner and almost no clean up since you cook it in a foil packet.  Great for summer. Cook it on the grill and keep your house cool. It's also great for fall or winter. Cook it in the oven and enjoy a great one dish dinner.

Ingredients:
2 sheets (12x18-inches each) aluminum Foil*
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1/2 to 3/4 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 package (9 oz.) refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
1/2 can (from a 2 1/4 oz. can) sliced ripe olives, drained (optional)

Directions:
Preheat grill to medium-high or oven to 450°F.
Center one chicken breast half on each sheet of aluminum foil that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle each chicken breast with 1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Arrange 1/2 of the tortellini around each piece of chicken. Spoon 1/2 of tomatoes and 1/2 of olives over each serving of tortellini.
Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Repeat to make two packets.

Cook:
Bake 30 to 40 minutes on a cookie sheet in the oven OR
Grill 14 to 18 minutes in a covered grill.

*I  use 4 pieces of foil and make two layers of aluminum foil to prevent the juices from leaking out.

GREEN TOMATO RELISH

Grind together and drain:
2 gallon green tomatoes
5 green peppers
12 large onions
Add:
2 quarts vinegar
2 quarts sugar
2 Tbsp mustard (dry)
1 tsp. tumeric
2 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 cup salt

Cook slow 30 minutes. Seal. Makes about 18 pints.

Porcupine Meatballs

I got this recipe from a good friend many years ago. I've been making them ever since. It's kind of a meal in one pot. There's meat, vegetable juice, and rice. Add a salad and you're good to go.

1 egg
1/2 cup water
1 envelope onion soup mix, divided
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup uncooked regular rice, divided
1 can (46 oz.) tomato juice
1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:
1. Beat egg slightly with water and 2 Tablespoons of the soup mix. Mix lightly with ground beef and 1/4 cup of the rice. Shape into 12 balls. Roll in remaining rice.
2. Heat tomato juice to boiling. Stir in remaining onion soup mix and sugar. Place meatballs into tomato juice. Cover.
3. Simmer 50 minutes or until rice puffs out around meat and is tender.