Lasagna Pizza

8-10 lasagna noodles (or 8 non-cook)
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 tsp. Fennel seeds
1 pkg. (3.5 oz.) pepperoni
1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup bell peppers, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
salt to taste


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook lasagna noodles according to package.  Cook ground beef, drain very well.  Add fennel seeds and salt to taste.  In a 9 x 13 x 2 baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray lay out 1/2 of the noodles.  Pour 1/2 of the spaghetti sauce over noodles.  Evenly add 1/2 of the ground beef, 1/2 the pepperoni, 1/2 the peppers and 1/2 the onion.  Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  Add a layer of the remaining noodles, spaghetti sauce, ground beef, pepperoni, peppers and onion.  Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and all of the mozzarella cheese.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and cheese has melted.  Allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.  Serves 6


Comments:  In one of my cookbooks I ran across a recipe for Pizza Casserole.  As I read the directions I had an idea to make a Lasagna Pizza.  My recipe is nothing like the original but it just goes to show you where ideas for great dishes do come from.  Also, this is a recipe that you can make your own.  You can use Italian sausage instead of the ground beef and fennel.  You can add any and all of your favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms, bacon, ham, etc.  Plus, you can make this into a chicken and/or spinach Lasagna Pizza by using Alfredo sauce.  This is a good one to simply "Think With Your Taste Buds" while making.  (I don't normally use the non-cook lasagna but did when making this.  To me the non-cook is usually a little tougher than the type you boil but that was what I wanted for my 'pizza crust.')

Comment from Carol:  Wow!  No more troublesome pizza crust but all the goodies that come with pizza!  Love the fennel and flavors from the sauce.  The ground beef and pepperoni carry their own with the 2 layers of lasagna noodles.  This dish combines 2 of my favorites - pizza and lasagna - and takes the worry out of what to do about the crust!  It's one of those recipes that sets you to thinking about all of the variations you could make to the sauce and toppings.  Terrific!

Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mini pepperoni
1/2 lb. sausage, cooked and crumbled
pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 24 cup mini-muffin pan with non-stick spray.  In a large bowl whisk together the flour, garlic powder and baking powder.  Whisk in the milk and egg.  Stir in the mozzarella, sausage and pepperoni.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Divide into 24 mini muffin cups.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until puffed and golden.  Serve with heated pizza sauce for dipping.

Commet:  I found this recipe on Pinterest where it had been posted by Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms.  This is delicious and can be made healthy by using turkey pepperoni and turkey sausage.  As you can see I didn't take it the healthy way.  I took these to a friends house who was having company over.  She served these to her company and between the 4 people present, they ate all 20.  They are that good.  Yes I kept 4 for myself.

Breakfast Pizza

1 lb. sausage
1 med. potato, cut into small cubes
1 T finely chopped onion
1 T finely chopped bell peppers
1 (8 oz.) pkg crescent roll (the kind that isn't separated)
4 eggs
1/2 cup shredded cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crumble and brown the sausage. Remove from the pan. Add the potatoes, onions and peppers to the same pan and saute until the potatoes are almost done. You want a little firmness because they will continue cooking while baking. Unroll the crescent and press into a 9 x 13 baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray ,bringing the edges of the crescent up about 1/2" around the sides of the dish. Lightly beat the eggs and pour over the crescent. Add salt pepper. Evenly top with the sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers. Cover with cheese. Bake 20 minutes or until the eggs are set. Serves 6.

When selecting the sausage, I like to get a good brand that is lean and cooks up with very little grease. I also use the hot flavor. The hot flavor tones down when the other ingredients are added. For changes - lean bacon, fried and crumbled. I you use bacon or even sausage that has a lot of grease, pour it out of the pan before you saute the onions and peppers. You don't want them greasy. You could add mushrooms or use ham as your meat. When I served this to my Food Testers I served it with sour cream on the side. Everyone liked the added flavor.