1/2 cup mayonnaise (I prefer Miracle Whip) or 1/2 cup salad dressing (I prefer Miracle Whip)

2 teaspoons dried basil

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1 (16 ounce) prepared pizza crust, Italian bread shell or 1 (16 ounce) your favorite homemade prepared pizza crust

12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided (I use turkey bacon)

3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (I’ve used Monterey Jack instead as well)

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preparation:

In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, basil, garlic powder and onion powder; refrigerate for 1/2 hour or more.

Place the pizza crust on an ungreased 12-inch pizza pan.

Spread mayonnaise mixture over crust.

Set aside 1/4 cup bacon.

Sprinkle remaining bacon, cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese on crust.

Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted. If doing a homemade crust, I bake mine at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 to 30 minutes or until done.

Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and reserved bacon.

Cut into pieces and serve.

Beef Parmesan with Garlic Angel Hair Pasta:

INGREDIENTS :

1 1/2 pounds beef cube steak
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
1 green bell pepper, sliced in rings
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
12 ounces angel hair pasta
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 cup butter

Preparation:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
* Cut cube steak into serving size pieces. Coat meat with the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan, and saute 1 teaspoon of the garlic for 3 minutes. Quick fry (brown quickly on both sides) meat. Place meat in a casserole baking dish, slightly overlapping edges. Place onion rings and peppers on top of meat, and pour marinara sauce over all.
* Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat. Sprinkle mozzarella over meat and leave in the oven till bubbly.
* Boil pasta al dente. Drain, and toss in butter and 1 teaspoon garlic. For a stronger garlic taste, season with garlic powder. Top with grated parmesan and parsley for color. Serve meat and sauce atop a mound of pasta! HINT: make the meat ahead of time, and refrigerate over night, the acid in the tomato sauce will tenderize the meat even more. If you do this, save the mozzarella till the last minute.

Cheese-Stuffed Shells in Marinara Sauce Recipe:

12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup BUITONI  Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) container BUITONI® Refrigerated Marinara Sauce

Preparation:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
* Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 7 1/2-inch baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
* Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.