15-Minute Marinara Sauce

This 15-Minute Marinara has endless uses... homemade pizzas, your favorite pasta dish, to pour over over meatballs, or use for dipping with your favorite garlic bread. It also stores well in the fridge for up to several days. Win win!

What you will need:
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup sweet onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning 
¼ tsp each salt, pepper and sugar
Pinch of red pepper flakes

This recipe makes enough for about four-five personal pizzas so double or triple if you need more, are making a pasta dish, or want to store some for a later time.

Directions:
Step One
In a small saucepan, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add onion and saute for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly translucent. Add in garlic, salt and pepper and cook an additional minute.

Step Two
Turn heat to medium, pour in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then turn to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes (or longer if you prefer), stirring occasionally.

Dinner idea: top some naan bread with this sauce + cheese + your favorite toppings and cook @ 400 for 10 minutes.

Easy peasy! Enjoy, y'all! xo

Sausage, Spinach & White Bean Skillet

We love one-skillet, easy-to-make, easy-to-clean-up dishes around here! Bonus: when it takes 30 minutes or less before it is on the table. Double bonus: when it includes beans (which my boys would eat everyday if it was up to them).

This Sausage, Spinach & White Bean Skillet meets all criteria listed above. Score!

What you will need:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 pkg of turkey kielbasa (or your preferred sausage), sliced fairly thin
½ yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans cannelini beans, rinsed & drained
½ can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (Muir Glen is my fave brand)
4-5 cups fresh spinach leaves

¼ tsp each dried basil, thyme, rosemary (use fresh herbs if you have them on hand)

¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp salt (optional as you will also get salt flavoring from the chicken broth)
Dash of red pepper flakes (also optional if you want an extra kick)
2 cups (or more/less depending on how "saucy" you want it) reduced sodium chicken broth

Recipe serves about 4 people (2 adults + 2 kids for us, with some leftover).

Directions:
Step One
In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium-high heat. Saute onion and sausage for about 4-5 minutes, or until onions are translucent and sausage is slightly browned. Add in garlic, herbs & spices and saute an additional minute.

Step Two
Add in spinach and continue cooking/stirring for 2-3 minutes, or until spinach has wilted down. Pour in beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.

Step Three
Let mixture boil for a couple minutes and then turn down to medium heat. Cook about 5-7 more minutes, or until mixture has thickened. Lower to medium-low or low setting and simmer until ready to eat.

Serve in a bowl with some warm crusty bread and enjoy this 20-minute dish full of protein, greens and flavor!

xoxo, y'all --