Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Please give me your favorite main dish for potluck.
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Old 06-07-2012, 10:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BaylorBear View Post
This is my "go to" casserole for all types of pot lucks. Men absolutely love it and they are a bit picky about casseroles

PASTA AL FORNO

Ingredients:

1 pound ziti rigate
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can, crushed tomatoes
1 diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 pinches ground cinnamon
Salt and pepper
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, browned & crumbly
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/2 cup ricotta
Softened butter to coat a medium casserole or baking dish

Directions:
Bring large pot of water to boil, then salt and cook pasta to al dente on the chewy side, 7 minutes. Once your pasta water comes to a boil to cook ziti, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

To medium skillet over medium heat add extra-virgin olive oil. Brown the Italian sausage. Add onions, bell pepper and garlic and saute 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and bring to a bubble. Add cream and ricotta and season sauce with cinnamon, salt and pepper. Add sausage blend to sauce and stir with cooked pasta to combine.

Coat a medium casserole with the butter. Adjust seasonings and transfer pasta to casserole. Cover pasta with the Asiago and Parmigiano-Reggiano and place in the oven for 30 minutes. Serve hot from oven.
That is one of my very favorite baked dishes.......YUM as my grandchildren would say. My only difference is nutmeg instead of cinnamon but otherwise, exactly the same. I think I'm going to make some this weekend........thanks for sharing. GREAT RECIPE.

Here is the THREE BEAN SALAD I mentioned earlier. Great fiber.
Chill overnight for best results. Gets better each day.

Three Bean Salad

The Villages Florida
Ingredients
  • 1 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped fine
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped fine
  • 1 cup fresh, finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 Tbsp fresh finely chopped rosemary
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Method

1 In a large bowl, mix the beans, celery, onion, parsley and rosemary.
2 In a separate small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add the dressing to the beans. Toss to coat.
3 Chill beans in the refrigerator for several hours, to allow the beans to soak up the flavor of the dressing.
Yield: Serves 4 to 8.