Baked Gnocchi

Last month, in a rare moment of bravery, I posed this question to my daughter: "What do you think I should make for dinner this weeK?"  😬 Anyone else fear this question as much as me?  😅 I've learned that while I value their input, I really need to prepare myself for the answers because I just never know what they're going to come up with.  One year I told my daughter I would make her whatever her heart desired for her birthday dinner... she requested meatloaf.  😅😅 #meatloafischeaperthanlobster 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Why do I put myself through this torture, you ask?  Well, when I feel like I'm in a cooking rut - I find that it helps to ask for another opinion.   22 year olds look at meals through an entirely different lens than I do.   Her fresh perspective is exactly what I needed to bring some new life to our meals.  

In response to my request for dinner ideas - my meat  loving daughter came up with two different gnocchi recipes.  Baked Gnocchi with Sausage and Gnocchi with Broccoli. Full disclosure: I've never actually made gnocchi.  With that being said - it really shouldn't have surprised me when my child informed me that she had never even tasted gnocchi.  🤦🏻‍♀️  I was disappointed in myself, both as a parent and as an Italian.  🤣
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​Even though I can't seem to convince her of this, it was never my intent for the girl who suggested the Baked Gnocchi recipe to make the recipe as well.  😬🤣 I'm not really sure how it happened but needless to say - she did a fantastic job.  And I realize that it's long overdue but, now that it's been brought to may attention - I'm  attempting to correct the injustice of depriving my family of gnocchi for so long.  Davis family - meet baked gnocchi.  

Baked Gnocchi
1 lb Italian sausage
2 - 1 lb packages gnocchi
8 oz ricotta
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp fennel seeds
25.5 oz jar marinara sauce
8 oz mozzarella, grated 
2 Tbsp fresh parsley

Brown sausage in skillet until cooked through.  Remove from heat.  

Add marinara, ricotta, salt, fennel seeds and gnocchi.  

Spoon into a 9x13 pan or two smaller pans.  

Top with mozzarella. 

Bake 30 minutes at 400.

Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve. 

Check out out that super fancy, disposable, Styrofoam plate.  #renovationlife  🤣​

Ciao!

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