Yep, it’s that simple. I made dinner. I pretty much got into a cooking funk for the past… 6 months or so. I have stopped being creative and making a “real” dinner for my family. I would either make the same 4-5 quick meals over and over again, or we’ve been going out to eat.
Well, starting yesterday I decided, “no more”. I love cooking and I guess after my little hiatus I am ready to get back into the kitchen for real.
Yesterday I made pizza dough from scratch then made a Mushroom & Roasted Bell Pepper Calzone!
Today I made Penne with Italian Sausage (stuffed with peppers and mozzarella cheese!!) & Tomato Sauce. The recipe didn’t call for bell peppers but I had a yellow one left over from the Calzone and since peppers were already stuffed in the sausage I threw it in this dish too.
Both dishes were a huge hit with the family. My husband went to work happy today because we had leftover Calzones for lunch and tomorrow he’ll have leftover Penne for lunch.
Last Day! 
Mmm. the Clazone looks really really good. I’ll have to try that!
This week as I make my grocery list I decided to take a peak at your blog for creative inspiration!
They both look fantastic but that calzone….oh ymmm! Now thatmade me hungry. think you should keep cooking. You do a great job from the looks of it! Plus, I love new recipes
I make pizza dough at least once a week and tend to have a lot of the same meals. I guess I am a creature of habit and eat what I love. Pizza is my go to meal but I am always creating new “pies” and especially like it now since the garden is slinging out veggies.
What a yummy dinner!
That pasta dish looks amazing! We are a big pasta fan, and I love how versatile it is. My daughter also loves peppers, so I think that would be a big hit!
The pasta looks really good.
I’ve never tried to make homemade calzones, but you’ve inspired me!
Oh my gosh this looks incredible!!
I’ve been in a slump too!! That penne pasta looks great!
Everything looks great!
Looks delicious, I love Italian food.
They both look great, but WOW, those calzones! I’m always too lazy to make those myself.
thanks Kiersten!
your calzone looks amazing! I wish I could get motivated to do more cooking, but this heat makes me so lazy!
looks so good!
its almost too hot to cook here those meals look delicious
Yum! Both dishes look really tasty! I tend to make the same things over and over again in a rotation… Sometimes I try new recipes. Thanks for the motivation to get cooking!
Maybe once baby boy #3 arrives in September…
Looks delish!!
Oh yummy! Everything looks so good!
Both dishes look amazing! I’ve been in a cooking funk lately too. I really need to kick it up a notch!
I haven’t felt like cooking lately with all the heat – but those calzones look yummy – maybe I’ll try that for a change.
the girls loved the peppers? Great pics!!
Yep. They both love them. Even raw! Of course just bell peppers, not spicy ones lol
I love, love, love calzones but have never yet attempted to make one! I need to try out your recipe!
Yum!
Yummmm….. That looks DELICIOUS!
I have no inspiration in the kitchen. I like to bake but hate to cook. I haven’t been doing much of either lately because it seems that as soon as I step foot into the kitchen my 13 month old has a meltdown, I don’t know what his issue is but he hates it when mommy is in the kitchen. Sigh…. this too shall pass.
Yummy! I’ve been wanting to find a good pizza dough recipe.
Looks delicious!
Yeah on the pizza dough. I’ve always been intimidated by thought of making my own dough. Is it hard to do? Is it a long process?
This was the first time I’ve ever made it by hand and it’s SO easy! Just 5 ingredients. The only time consuming part is waiting 2 hours for the dough to rise but other than that it took me maybe 20 minutes to make the dough! I’ll be posting the recipe for the dough and calzone soon!
Oh, they both look so yummy! Now I’m going to have to go make me something Italian.
Those both look yummy!
That looks delicious, loving pasta!
Both look amazing and this half Italian girl is drooling over here! I wish we lived closer so I could come mooch
haha. I’d totally let you. I always make too much.
Your Calzone looks delicious! Love that you added the bell pepper!
Gorgeous photos! I bet they were both delish!
I am going to have to tell my husband to make a calzone. Looks great!
That looks soo good, especially the pasta
Both of these dishes look goood!
I’d love to try these. They look delicious!
Your food looks yummy! Tonight I got busy in the kitchen too. It has been hot so I haven’t been into cooking much lately but tonight I did.
I think it’s the heat that’s been keeping me out of the kitchen. I like that.
That calzone looks amazing!
Both of those dinners look yummy! I am in a cooking funk right now too, but this inspires me to start cooking again!!
awesome!!
Well both meals look excellent so keep it going! I know all about cooking strikes, in fact I’m in the middle of one right now.
there is no way YOU are in a cooking strike. You make amazing food 24/7!
LOL not when I can’t eat any of it right now. I’m on a soup, yogurt and mashed potato restriction right now.
Oh this looks great… can’t wait to try it.