By Dinah Surh
Staten Island, New York
Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest 45, 2012

It’s Italian night! Progresso® minestrone soup and Pillsbury® crescents give a jump start to an easy dinner bake.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 teaspoon McCormick® Oregano Leaves

1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Basil Leaves

1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder

1/4 teaspoon McCormick® California Lemon Peel

1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Black Pepper

1 1/2 lb extra lean (at least 90%) ground beef

3/4 cup Progresso® Italian style bread crumbs

1/4 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup milk

1 LAND O LAKES® Egg

1 teaspoon kosher (coarse) salt

1 can (19 oz) Progresso® High Fiber homestyle minestrone soup

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 can Pillsbury® Place ‘n Bake® refrigerated crescent rounds

1 tablespoon Crisco® 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (8 oz)

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DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 400°F. In small bowl, stir together oregano, basil, garlic powder, lemon peel and black pepper. Reserve 3/4 teaspoon of mixture; set aside. In large bowl, mix ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, salt and remaining seasoning mix until thoroughly combined. Form into sixteen 2-inch meatballs. Pour soup into ungreased 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish; top with meatballs.

Bake 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix reserved 3/4 teaspoon seasoning mixture and Parmesan cheese. Unroll each crescent round to make a strip; place strips on piece of foil. Brush strips with olive oil; sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese mixture.

Remove baking dish from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Sprinkle meatballs with Italian cheese. Place seasoned crescent strips in a diagonal pattern on top of cheese, cutting to fit if necessary and not crisscrossing the strips.

Bake an additional 20 to 24 minutes or until cheese is melted and strips are golden brown. Serve in bowls.

Nutritional Information:
1 Serving (1 Serving)Calories 480(Calories from Fat 230),Total Fat 26g(Saturated Fat 11g,Trans Fat 2 1/2g),Cholesterol 120mg;Sodium 1270mg;Total Carbohydrate 27g(Dietary Fiber 2g,Sugars 6g),Protein 35g;Percent Daily Value*:Vitamin A 10.00%;Vitamin C 0.00%;Calcium 25.00%;Iron 25.00%;Exchanges:1 Starch;0 Fruit;1/2 Other Carbohydrate;0 Skim Milk;0 Low-Fat Milk;0 Milk;0 Vegetable;4 1/2 Very Lean Meat;0 Lean Meat;0 High-Fat Meat;4 1/2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choices:2;*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.