Baked Ravioli Casserole

Everyone loves an easy weeknight meal recipe. I've seen several version of this recipe floating around Pinterest which consisted of just two ingredients.... marinara sauce and frozen ravioli. I decided to kick it up a notch with the addition of cooked mild Italian sausage and of course lots and lots of shredded Mozzarella cheese!!!! My family absolutely loved this Italian cheesy casserole and we will definitely make it again!!!

Baked Ravioli Casserole

1  (1 lb.)package Mild Italian Sausage (or use 1 lb. ground hamburger meat)

1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce

1  (22 oz.) package frozen cheese ravioli

2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese (or use more if you like...I used closer to 4 cups total)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium skillet, cook the Italian sausage until done (no longer pink). Stir in the entire jar of marinara sauce with the sausage. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with baking spray. Spread half of the marinara meat sauce on bottom of baking pan. Layer with half of the frozen ravioli and half of the mozzarella cheese. Layer the other half of the frozen ravioli, remaining marinara meat sauce and then top with as much shredded mozzarella cheese as you like! Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 

NOTES: You could also add dollops of ricotta to this casserole or even a layer of cottage cheese. 

Pumpkin Pie Bites

FINALLY my favorite time of year is here.....FALL!!!! (Of course I may be a little partial since my birthday is on Halloween.) So excited for cooler weather, football games and everything pumpkin!!! I've seen this recipe floating around on Pinterest and just knew that I would love it. I adapted the original recipe from using a regular sized muffin pan to a mini-muffin pan. If you don't have a mini-muffin pan then you are missing out.....go buy 2 of them right now! There is less guilt when you pop a bite sized dessert into your mouth......right??? It combines the simple flavors of pumpkin pie without the mess of making a pie crust. Plus these tiny treats make it easy to enjoy a bite of pumpkin whenever you want! 

Pumpkin Pie Bites

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup evaporated milk (or any type of milk)

2/3 cup all purpose flour

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray nonstick cooking spray on a mini-muffin tin pan. In a large bowl, mix the pumpkin, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and milk.  Add the flour, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the mixture and stir until all ingredients are combined. Fill each mini-muffin cup 2/3's full. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool pumpkin pie bites in the pan for 10 minutes; remove from pan and keep refrigerated. Top with whipped cream (or cream cheese frosting) and a dash of pumpkin pie spice whenever you are ready to enjoy a great fall dessert!!!

Note: This recipe made 45 mini pumpkin bites. 
recipe adapted from The Krazy Coupon Lady