TOMATO, BASIL AND CHEESE BAKED PASTA
For kids ages 12 to 16 years.
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Add small shell pasta and cook the pasta to al dente doneness which means that the pasta will still have a bite to it or be a little chewy. The pasta will soak up more juice and keep on cooking after we drain it, so we need it to be a little under cooked. The shells will probably cook about 9 or 10 minutes.
- Preheat a deep, big skillet or a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
- Place garlic on the cutting board and place the flat of your knife on top of each clove. Carefully give the garlic a whack with the palm of your hand to separate the cloves from the skins. Throw out the skins and chop up the garlic. Remember to keep your fingers curled under and the edge of your sharp, chef's knife tilted slightly away from your body.
- Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan by pouring a slow stream of it twice-around-the-pan. This will be about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Do not let the oil pour out too fast. You are looking for a slow, steady stream. Add the garlic to the oil. To chop the onion, cut the ends off and cut the whole onion down the center. Wrap half and save it. Cut the other half into thin slices then twist the slices a quarter turn and chop them again. Hold the tip of knife on the cutting board and lift the back of the knife up and down over the onion to make the pieces really small. Add the chopped up onion to the garlic and oil. Cook, stirring a lot, 5 minutes until the onions are mushy and look cooked.
- Add the tomatoes to the onions and stir. When the tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce the heat under the sauce to low. Stir in basil pieces to wilt them. Season the sauce with salt and peppe, to your taste.
- Preheat your broiler to high and place a rack in the center of the oven.
- Drain pasta shells. Add them to a flameproof casserole dish. Add pesto sauce, 1 cup of ricotta cheese and a handful of grated Parmigiano, too. Stir carefully and coat the hot pasta with the pesto and cheeses. Pour the hot tomato and basil sauce over the pasta, as much as you like. You can always serve a little extra at the table, to pass around. Shred up some mozzarella cheese with a grater and scatter it over the pasta. Add a final sprinkle of Parmigiano to the mozzarella as well. Place the casserole under the broiler in the middle of oven, 10 to 12 inches from the heat. Let the cheese melt and bubble on top, 3 to 5 minutes.
PENNE WITH FIVE CHEESES
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
- Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil in a stockpot.
- Combine all the ingredients except the penne and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
- Drop the penne into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain well in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine.
- Divide the pasta mixture among 6 shallow ceramic gratin dishes (1 1/2 to 2-cup capacity). Dot with the butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.
CREAMY PASTA BAKE WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND BASIL
One of my favorite midweek pasta bakes - my whole family loves it and there is not much prep. Once the pasta bake is in the oven, you can make a salad or set the table and then it's time to eat.
Provided by Julian
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 51m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent while penne is cooking, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add cream and Parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and sugar.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
- Stir some pasta cooking water into the sauce and add cooked penne. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 531.6 calories, Carbohydrate 67.8 g, Cholesterol 61.7 mg, Fat 21.2 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 21.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.1 g, Sodium 779.8 mg, Sugar 7.8 g
BAKED PASTA WITH TOMATO, CREAM AND FIVE CHEESES
Another "find" from Martha Stewart Living. Categorized as an appetizer, but it couald easily be served as a supper entree by adding some poultry or meat and a salad.
Provided by Miss Barb
Categories Pasta Shells
Time 25m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 500 degrees.
- Cook pasta for 4 minutes in large pot of salted water.
- While pasta is cooking, place cream, tomatoes,cheeses (mozarella, fontina, gorgonzola and ricotta), salt and basil in a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture and toss to combine.
- Divide among 6 to 8 shallow ceramic bowls.
- Dot with butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with Romano and scallions and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 789, Fat 49.5, SaturatedFat 30.2, Cholesterol 168.6, Sodium 600.5, Carbohydrate 64.2, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 4.7, Protein 23
ONE-PAN BAKED CREAM CHEESE PASTA
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400ºF.
- Combine tomatoes, garlic, dry seasonings and 2 Tbsp. dressing in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
- Place block of cream cheese in center of tomato mixture.
- Bake 30 to 35 min. or until tomatoes are tender, stirring after 20 min.
- Add pasta, boiling water and remaining dressing to ingredients in baking dish. Use back of spatula to gently press pasta into boiling water so most the pasta is covered with water. Cover with foil.
- Bake 20 min. Remove baking dish from oven. Stir ingredients in baking dish; cover. Let stand 5 min.
- Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 370, Fat 16 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, TransFat 0.5 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 330 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 12 g
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