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Putt Putt to the Pizza Hut Museum

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Do you have fond memories of dining at Pizza Hut as a kid?

Just thinking of hanging out at Pizza Hut brings back fond memories for me. I’ll never forget the time my neighborhood friends and I were old enough to dine there without our parents. We pooled our money together and bought a pizza to share. We were living the dream.

Today, I still can’t believe that the internationally known pizza restaurant was founded in my home city, Wichita. In 1958, two Wichita State University students, Dan and Frank Carney, opened the first restaurant located on the east side of town staffed by family, fellow fraternity brothers, and friends. What started as a humble side hustle for a couple of college students has grown to 18,000 Pizza Hut restaurants in over 100 countries (Source: Yum! Brands, 2021).

Pizza Hut enthusiasts will get a kick out of visiting the Pizza Hut Museum on Wichita State University’s Innovation campus – the original “Home of the Hut.” It is the actual original Pizza Hut building! Open to the public and free to tour, the interactive museum showcases everything you love about the business from authentic artifacts to chronological timelines.

Pizza Hut Original Building

How did it all start? The Carney brothers borrowed $600 from their mom to open the first restaurant location at Kellogg and Bluff streets. When they eventually sold the business to Pepsi Company in 1977, it was worth $300,000,000. Now, that’s how you build a business! As they say, “no one loves pizza more than Pizza Hut.” To read more about the company’s growth, visit their blog page.

Recognize the dining chairs and Tiffany-style lamp? Hessco Manufacturing, located in Hesston, Kansas, made the furniture for the restaurant chain from the 1960s to-1970s.

Over the years, the brand has evolved to align with pop culture trends. (Does anyone remember the commercials featuring celebrities?) They made history as the first company to deliver food to space. Additionally, they influenced childrens’ love of reading. I was a product of the BOOK IT program, a literacy initiative that encouraged students to read and helped kids get access to books. After I finished reading a book, I was awarded a gold star sticker to place on my Pizza Hut BOOK IT button. Once I completed all five stars on the button, I earned a Personal Pan Pizza®! Perhaps that explains my love of reading and why I eventually became a high school English teacher?

What Pizza Hut merchandise did you own as a kid?

Pizza Hut’s influence can be seen as you tour the museum. You’ll appreciate the interactive space offering visitors a chance to take a walk down memory (pizza!) lane. You’re encouraged to experience the Tactile Library and take a selfie with the restaurant chain’s original mascot, Pizza Pete. Warning: By the time you exit the building, you’ll crave a slice of pizza. What will you order for dine-in or delivery?

Speaking of delivery, did you know that Pizza Hut delivered pizzas to The White House in 1989 after First Lady Barbara Bush decided to host a pizza party? A favorite meal choice of Americans, the company launched online ordering in 1994 making getting a pie delivered to your door that much easier.

Pizza Pete, a one-time mascot for the franchise, was once made into a kids toy.

Don’t forget! The Pizza Hut Museum is open to the public and admission is free! Review the museum’s hours and plan your visit to the original Home of the Hut. Consider yourself the ultimate Pizza Hut fan? Stay up to date to learn about product releases and campaign launches via their Press Room page. Perhaps you can’t make it to Wichita to visit the museum? Take a virtual journey here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a Meat Lover’s® pizza to order.

Pizza Hut Museum Exterior

 

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

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Today, I turn over a new leaf. My goal is to prepare meals for the upcoming work week! The challenge? To make all of our meals low-carb.

After snagging marked down ground turkey from Target ($2 off!), I knew I had the base for what would become delicious Chicken Parmesan Meatballs hot from the oven!

This recipe is incredibly simple to prepare and includes easy clean-up, a win-win, right?! I know you’re a hard-working, busy home cook and the last thing you need is a complicated dinner recipe. I can help!

Begin by setting out all of your ingredients, grab necessary utensils including a large mixing bowl, and preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Then, all you need to do is mix all of the ingredients (except the sauce and some of the cheese) with your hands in the large bowl. Spray a foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray. Later, place medium size meatballs on the baking sheet, top with jarred spaghetti sauce and a bit of shredded parmesan.

Feel free to add more sauce than I did, if you prefer.

Bake the meatballs at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Then, remove the meatballs from the oven and cover in a tablespoon of more spaghetti sauce and a heaping amount of shredded mozzarella, and a bit more shredded parmesan. Return the baking sheet to the oven, but turn the oven setting to broil. Watch the meatballs closely and remove them once the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

The meatballs slide off the foil easily.

You could garnish with more chopped fresh parsley if you would like to add color! Either eat the meatballs by themselves or add them on top of a bowl of pasta and more spaghetti sauce. The Chicken Parmesan Meatballs could also be served inside a toasted, halved baguette to make it into a sandwich. (We’re really trying to eat low-carb meals so we nixed that idea, but boy would it be scrumptious! While these meatballs have bread crumbs, we’re not serving ours on pasta or as a sandwich thus cutting significant carb intake.)

Add these meatballs to your spaghetti sauce for dinner pasta or eat them individually as a hearty small plate.

When the work week leaves you feeling drained and you can’t find the energy to make dinner, Chicken Parmesan Meatballs is a grab and heat-up dinner option that goes well over al dente pasta or inside a crusty bread baguette!

14 meatballs

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Melted cheese and tangy sauce make these Chicken Parmesan Meatballs a scrumptious dinner option.

15 minPrep Time

17 minCook Time

32 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1/2 c. Italian bread crumbs
  • 2 T. chopped onion
  • 2 T. chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 c. shredded parmasen
  • heavy pinch of kosher salt
  • heave pinch of ground pepper
  • 1 clove of garlic chopped
  • 1 T. Italian seasoning
  • 1 egg whisked
  • Jarred spaghetti sauce
  • 1 c. shredded mozzarella

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degress.
  2. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
  3. Mix all of the ingredients, expect the spaghetti sauce and mozzarella, in a large bowl by hand until well incorporated.
  4. Form medium sized meatballs by hand and place on the foil lined baking sheet.
  5. Top each meatball with about a teaspoon of spaghetti sauce and lightly sprinkle parmesan on top.
  6. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes.
  7. Remove the meatballs from the oven, top with more sauce and add a heaping amount of mozzarella on top of each one. Set the over to broil.
  8. Broil the meatballs on the top shelf for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is bubbly, golden brown.
  9. Serve the meatballs warm or add to pasta with more sauce.
7.8.1.2
88
https://onedelightfullife.com/chicken-parmesan-meatballs/

Nutrition

Calories

2489 cal

Fat

71 g

Carbs

177 g

Protein

173 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Roasted Vegetables

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Sometimes the last thing you want to do is make dinner when you get home from work. Yet, the thought of another frozen pizza or takeout meal makes your head spin. The solution to an easy, home-cooked meal is a sheet pan dinner that is as easy to prepare as chopping ingredients.

My recipe for Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Roasted Vegetables is incredibly simple and uses up many of the vegetables in your refrigerator. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.

While your oven is heating up, clean and cut vegetables of your choice into chunks and add them to a large mixing bowl. Then, do the same to a package of link Sweet Italian sausage. Next, drizzle the vegetables and sausage lightly with olive oil, add a pinch of red pepper flake, paprika, Italian seasoning, and then salt and pepper. Finally, toss the bowl’s contents with a large spoon (or use your hands).

Transfer the contents of the bowl to a parchment-lined large sheet pan. Spread the sausage and vegetables evenly across the surface of the sheet pan so they roast evenly during cooking time. Bake 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the sheet pan from the oven and move around the sausage and vegetables with a spoon. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until the sausage no longer looks pink and the vegetables have softened and browned.

Warning: You’ll be tempted to grab chunks of cooked yumminess from the pan after removing it from the oven and pop them in your mouth. Don’t make this rookie mistake. It’s hot, folks. Super hot.

Want more easy to prepare dinner recipes for the week? Try Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives or Thin Crust Alfredo Pizza with Bacon and Kale. 

Let me know about your go-to favorite dinner recipe in the comments section below. Share it!

Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Roasted Vegetables

Incredibly easy to prepare for a weeknight dinner, this sheet pan dinner was having you craving leftovers.

15 minPrep Time

40 minCook Time

55 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 package Sweet Italian sausage links (5-6) large diced
  • 3-4 large diced red potatoes
  • 1 large diced russet potato
  • 1 small, large diced red onion
  • 1 small, large diced yellow onion
  • 1 large diced green pepper
  • 2 whole garlic cloves
  • Handful of asparagus (de-stemmed of tough stalks)
  • 1 T. olive oil
  • 1/2 T. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Dice all vegetables, garlic, and sausage into large chunks and place in a large bowl.
  3. Add olive oil, seasoning, red pepper flake, salt and pepper.
  4. Toss contents of bowl with a spoon our your hands until evenly coated.
  5. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes.
  7. Remove pan from oven and use spoon to move around the vegetables and sausage to help it cook thoroughly.
  8. Bake for 15-20 minutes more until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables have softened to your liking.

Notes

Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil before serving (optional).

7.8.1.2
80
https://onedelightfullife.com/sheet-pan-italian-sausage-roasted-vegetables/

Nutrition

Calories

512 cal

Fat

43 g

Carbs

30 g

Protein

9 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce

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This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for information. 

Bolognese, or ragu, is a meaty tomato based pasta sauce that can be served on your preferred pasta. Often created with beef and some kind of sausage, it typically includes a tomato paste, chopped vegetables, and a liquid such as broth and/or wine.

When I began to make Cooking Light’s 2014 recipe for Beefy Bolognese over Penne Pasta, I quickly realized that I was out of red wine. The horror! So, I substituted more chicken stock in its place. Instead of using ground beef, I used ground turkey. The addition of chopped center cut bacon completed the meaty trilogy. Incorporating finely chopped onion, carrot, celery, tomatoes, and garlic elevated the flavors and was a sneaky way to include more vegetables into our dinner entree.

I think you’ll enjoy my Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce, a healthier, alcohol-free version of the Cooking Light recipe. Thick in consistency, it can be layered on top of freshly cooked pasta or nestled between lasagne noodles. The longer it simmers on the stove, the better it tastes at dinner time.

Top with shredded parmesan (optional) and more flat leaf parsley.

I like to organize my ingredients before starting the cooking process so I diced all vegetables and opened cans and jars before turning on the stovetop. This kind of preparation makes cooking much easier and enjoyable. You don’t feel rushed in a panic when preparing multi-step recipes like this one.

I chopped the raw bacon into small pieces before adding them to a medium-high dutch oven pot.

After cooking the bacon for about five minutes or until it reaches the crispness you prefer, add the ground turkey and Italian sausage. Cook six minutes or until brown. You will have to continually stir it to get it to crumble and cook evenly.

The Italian sausage leaves just enough grease in the pan once browned to cook the vegetables in the following steps but not enough grease to ruin the recipe.

After the meat has cooked thoroughly, remove it from the pan and set aside. Immediately add in the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to saute for about five minutes.

Chopped your vegetables so that they are all the same size to guarantee that they cook evenly.

Add tomato paste and sauté while mixing one minute. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cook one minute, scraping the pot to loosen any browned bits.

Make sure to stir frequently.

Return the beef mixture to the pot and stir in the chopped tomatoes, pepper and salt. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook one hour. Make sure to stir the sauce several times to prevent it from sticking to the pot. Then, cook pasta according to package directions. Once the hour has expired, spoon the bolognese on top of your pasta of choice. Garnish with shredded parmesan and flat leaf parsley.

4 cups

Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce

An even lighter version of Cooking Light's meat bolognese sauce. The perfect slow simmer Sunday dinner!

30 minPrep Time

1 hr, 30 Cook Time

2 hrTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 3 chopped center-cut bacon slices
  • 8 oz lean ground turkey
  • 4 oz ground Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 c finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 c finely chopped carrot
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1/4 c unsalted tomato paste
  • 1/2 c unsalted chicken stock
  • 1/3 c. dry red wine (I used more chicken stock)
  • 1 (14.5oz) can unsalted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 8 oz. pasta
  • chopped fresh flat leaf parsley (optional)
  • 1 T. shredded parmasen (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place bacon in a Dutch oven or deep pot with a lid over medium-high heat.
  2. Saute 5 minutes until crisp.
  3. Add ground turkey and ground sausage to pan and cook 6 minutes or until browned.
  4. Stir until it crumbles.
  5. Remove meat mixture from pan.
  6. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic; saute 1 minute.
  7. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
  8. Return meat mixture to pot; stir in tomatoes, pepper, and salt.
  9. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 1 hour, stirring several times.
  10. Cook pasta according to box directions. Serve bolognese on top of pasta and top with optional parmesan and chopped parsley.
7.8.1.2
66
https://onedelightfullife.com/dutch-oven-bolognese-sauce/

Nutrition

Calories

1957 cal

Fat

61 g

Carbs

121 g

Protein

94 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

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Sausage Caprese Stuffed Portobellos

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It’s no secret that I love cream cheese. I add it to everything from pasta to desserts. And if you’ve ever attended one of my parties, I probably served you a cream cheese based dip hot and bubbly from the crockpot. While that sounds creamy and dreamy (like, who doesn’t love chips dripping with warm cheesy artichoke dip?), I have to make healthier food choices.

When a recipe called for cream cheese stuffed mushrooms, I knew I was going to have to flip the script, people.

My recipe for Sausage Caprese Stuffed Portobellos received rave reviews from my guy. I know one of my recipes is a keeper when “Babe, you need to remember this one” is heard between bites from the kitchen. Score one for me and healthy eating!

I may just try this healthier food thing again tomorrow.

Intended to be a side dish, these mushrooms are filling enough that they could be one's lunch meal.
Intended to be a side dish, these mushrooms are filling enough that they could be one’s lunch meal.

I eliminated the cream cheese and used low-fat mozzarella. There was no need to use olive oil either. Clean the mushrooms using a paper towel rather than under the faucet, a tip I learned from Rachel Ray. I do not remove the outer skin. Remove the stem and the inside texture using the edge of a spoon.

Sausage-Caprese-Stuff-Portobellos Sausage-Caprese-Stuff-Portobellos4

After cooking off the country sausage and mixing the remaining ingredients, stuff each mushroom firmly and top with more cheese before baking.

Sausage-Caprese-Stuff-Portobellos2

Bake in an 8″x8″ glass baking dish, uncovered at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until tender.

Intended to be a side dish, these mushrooms are filling enough that they could be one's lunch meal.
Hubby and heart-health approved.

Ingredients

  • 2 cleaned portobello mushrooms
  • 1 pkg cooked and drained country sausage
  • 1 c. diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 c. low-fat mozzarella
  • 2 T shredded parmesan
  • 1 T Italian seasoning
  • 6 springs fresh chopped basil
  • 1 chopped green onion
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cook country sausage according to package directions in a skillet under done and crumbly.
  3. Transfer sausage to a paper towel lined plate to drain any grease. You may want to use another paper towel on top of the sausage to rid it of any more grease.
  4. Transfer dry sausage to a medium sized bowl.
  5. Add tomatoes, half of the mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning, basil, green onion and stir until well mixed.
  6. Clean portobellos with a dry paper towel. Remove the stems and hollow out the center fibers using a spoon. Place mushrooms top-side down in an 8"x8" glass baking dish.
  7. Stuff sausage mixture into each portobello firmly. Top with black pepper.
  8. Add remaining mozzarella on top of mushrooms before baking.
  9. Bake 10-12 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
  10. Serve hot.

Notes

The parmesan and sausage already give a salty flavor, which is why a pinch of salt is not included in this recipe.

7.8.1.2
33

https://onedelightfullife.com/sausage-caprese-stuffed-portobellos/

Nutrition

Calories

71 cal

Fat

3 g

Carbs

8 g

Protein

2 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Share your favorite mushroom recipe in the comments section below. You will find more recipes like these posted several times at week on One Delightful Life’s Pinterest page!

Movie Night Popcorn Seasonings

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Fire up Netflix and turn down the lights….it’s Movie Night. But wait! Where’s the popcorn? Everyone knows those store bought popcorn seasonings contain all kinds of unpronounceable ingredients. Take ten minutes, before pushing play on your chosen flick, and make one of these high flavor Movie Night Popcorn Seasonings to add to a bag of unsalted microwave popcorn. Scroll down for a listing of fun, flavor combinations and try the featured recipe card for Pizza Popcorn Seasoning. And…ACTION!

Pizza + Popcorn = An Empty Popcorn Box
Homemade Seasonings + Popcorn = An Empty Popcorn Box

Fiesta Mexicana

  • 1/4 c. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp cayenne
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp dry cilantro

Zesty Italian

  • 1/4 c. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp oregano leaves
  • 1/2 tsp onion power
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp sage
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 1 tsp basil

Dill Pickle

  • 1/4 c. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 T. dill
  • 1 tsp onion power
  • 1 tsp kosher salt

Garlic Parmesan

  • 1/4 c. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 T grated parmesan
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp parsley

Ingredients

  • 1 bag plain microwave popcorn (no butter)
  • 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
  • 4 T oregano
  • 2 T dry basil
  • 1 T garlic powder
  • 1 T thyme
  • 1 T grated Parmasen cheese
  • Pinch of black pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt unsalted butter in a small saucepan.
  2. While it's melting, mix together all dry ingredients.
  3. Add dry seasoning mix to melted butter. Remove from heat.
  4. Follow microwave instructions for unflavored popcorn.
  5. Drizzle melted butter mixture on top of popcorn.

Notes

Try our other popcorn seasonings too!

7.8.1.2
7

https://onedelightfullife.com/movie-night-popcorn-seasonings/

Nutrition

Calories

95 cal

Fat

6 g

Carbs

4 g

Protein

7 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

onedelightfullife.com Increase the flavor of microwave popcorn for movie night at home with these easy seasoning combinations.
onedelightfullife.com Increase the flavor of microwave popcorn for movie night at home with these easy seasoning combinations.

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