D's baked pasta (makes 6 - 8 servings)
1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce (we recommend the pesto and sundried tomato marinara from Whole Foods)
1 (12 oz) container of the best ricotta you can get, preferably fresh
Some snips of fresh basil, if you've got it around
2 good quality raw sausages, optional (we use the hot pork sausages made in house at WF)
12 ounces of your favorite penne pasta* (we use multi grain flax from TJs)
Small handful of grated cheese (pyranno is my fave)
1. Get your pasta water on the stove so it can start heating up while you do everything else.
2. Slice the skin on the sausage and dump the meat into a skillet to cook. You could probably just slice the sausage but I'm still a little freaked out about sausage skin for some reason.
3. Pour your marinara sauce into a medium bowl and add the ricotta, the chopped basil and a dash of salt and pepper. Stir it around. Sneak little bites to make sure it tastes right.
4. Put the pasta in the boiling water and cook till it's just slightly less cooked than you actually like it to be. Drain.
5. Stir the cooked sausage into the marinara mixture.
6. Pour half of the marinara mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Layer the cooked pasta on top. Pour the remaining marinara over the pasta. Sprinkle with the grated cheese.
7. Bake at 375 F for about 45 minutes, until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts.
You'll be amazed at how fast this all comes together. It's super easy and doesn't take much concentration - perfect for a weeknight.
*Sorry, I use a food scale for measuring pasta, so I don't know how many cups this is. Pasta usually comes in 16 oz bags, so 12 oz would be about 3/4 of the bag, if that helps.
i'm so impressed that you two just threw this together. looks amazing and perfect for a chilly night.
ReplyDeleteyay, i'm so excited to try this!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing.
p.s. how much did you get your food scale for?
summer, i've had my food scale for years, and i have no idea how much i paid for it. it's a pretty simple digital scale - i think it was from bed, bath and beyond? sorry i'm not more helpful!
ReplyDeletekay, nothing to do with the pasta, (though it does looks delicious) but yay, you're back! hope your stepdad is feeling better by the day... scary story in general, and as a fellow bike commuter i'm especially nervous about bike stories. eek.
ReplyDeletealso, Heath LA is opening this weekend. I'm going.
mmmmm this looks good, one to try this weekend I think, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteps just found you through little glowing light's blog
This looks SO good. I'm so impressed that you guys just dreamed it up! I have a similar dish but it's not quite as classy---i call it "pizzaroni" and it involves pasta, cheese, canned pizza sauce and some turkey pepperoni...
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to give your ziti a try!
Oh, feeling better already, now that you are back to feeding me with great tastes! Yummo!
ReplyDeleteJust the word casserole makes me feel oh so cozy!
Oh Rachel I'm so glad you are back! I really missed you wonderful posts.
ReplyDeleteThis little casserole sounds perfect for a snowy night in front of the fireplace with a bottle of wine. xoxo...
atta girl, welcome back
ReplyDeletekathi
oh that looks soooo good! I wish I wasn't gluten free!!
ReplyDeleteSounds perfectly comforting! I am happy you are back to blogging. I hope your stepfather is recovering.....
ReplyDeletei love anything that can be thrown in a bowl, and baked. this. sounds. delicious,.
ReplyDelete