Creamy Baked Gnocchi

It's hard to believe that its been almost 2 months since I last posted. I have been so busy this summer and it is just flying by!! After a busy long weekend with ongoing activities the only thing I wanted to do on Sunday was to rent a couple movies, enjoy some comfort food, and relax. I came up with this amazing baked gnocchi recipe. It's the next best thing, if not better, than mac and cheese. This recipe is especially creamy, cheesy, and indulgent. I'm telling you, the best thing I ever learned to make is a good cheese sauce. This girl loves her cheese, and I use it as a base for so many things!! I usually take the general gist of the recipe and use whatever cheese I have on hand. You can also add so many things to it (like the ham and peas I used in this recipe!). Hope you like it (actually I know you will !!)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound gnocchi
• 1 bag frozen peas
• 1 ham steak, cubed
• 2 cups shredded cheese (i used pepper jack)
• 1 cup Gruyere cheese
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 yellow onions, chopped
• Olive oil
• Panko bread crumbs

Recipe:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a pan with nonstick spray.
• Place chopped onions, cubed ham, and half a bag of frozen peas into a skillet with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sautee on medium heat until onions are sauteed and ham is browned.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook for about 2 minutes . Drain the gnocchi, toss with olive oil, then set aside. Return the pot to the stove.
• In the large pot, melt the butter then add the flour. Wisk until combined. Add milk and cream gradually, whisking to incorporate. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until it thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cheese gradually, whisking until the cheese is melted.
• Once cheese sauce is thickened to your liking, add the ham, onion, and pea mixture. Then, stir in gnocchi until everything is coated with the cheese sauce.
• Place gnocchi cheese mixture in the greased pan.
• Coat the top of the gnocchi with panko bread crumbs.
• Drizzle olive oil on the top of the panko bread crumbs.
• Bake in oven for 15 minutes, then place the dish under broiler for a couple minutes to brown the top.

Homemade Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Sometimes I surprise myself. I knew that these mozzarella sticks would probably be delicious but I had no idea they would be AMAZING. My mom said it was the best thing I had ever made...EVER. I honestly thought they were way better than any mozzarella sticks I've had at a restaurant. These mozarella sticks aren't even fried!! AKA you can eat twice as much.... Ok maybe not, but I still did haha.

Recipe Source: Skinny Taste

Ingredients:

• 12 sticks mozzarella cheese sticks
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 4 tbsp flour
• 10 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 10 tbsp panko crumbs
• 4 tsp parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• non stick cooking spray
• tomato sauce

Recipe:

• Cut all cheese sticks in half to make 24 pieces.
• Place cheese in freezer. 
• Place the beaten egg in one bowl, and the flour in a second bowl.
• Combine italian breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and dried parsley in a third bowl.
• To make mozarella sticks, place each frozen cheese stick first in flour bowl, then in egg bowl, then in bread crumbs bowl. Repeat this process with all the cheese sticks. Once the cheese sticks are coated, place on a baking sheet with wax paper.
• Note: You will have extra breadcrumbs, flour, and egg mixture left over. 
• Place mozzarella sticks in freezer for about 20 minutes, or until frozen. 
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray. Place frozen mozarella sticks on tray. Spray tops of mozarella sticks with cooking spray.
• Bake for about 4 to 5 minutes. Flip mozzarella sticks and bake for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
• Serve with your favorite tomato sauce.