Baked Ziti

Courtesy of: Karlie Merrill

1 pound dried ziti pasta
Kosher salt
3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously, and boil the pasta until al dente, tender but still slightly firm. Drain.

Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce, cubed mozzarella, half parmeasan cheese. Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Quick Tomato Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet and or spicy Italian sausage
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 28-ounce can + 1 16 oz can petite diced tomatoes
Sprig fresh thyme
Sprig fresh basil
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper, to taste. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

Copyright 2004 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
Yield: about 5 cups
Prep Time: 8 minutes

Beef Noodle Bowl

Beef Noodle Bowl

8 oz. linguine, uncooked

3 cups broccoli florets

3 medium carrots, peeled, sliced (about 2 cups)

2 tsp. oil

1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips

1/4 cup Italian Dressing

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1 tsp. ground ginger

2 green onions, thinly sliced

COOK pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli and carrots to the cooking water for the last 2 min. of the pasta cooking time. Drain pasta mixture.

MEANWHILE, heat oil in large nonstick skillet. Add meat; cook until browned on all sides, stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing, teriyaki sauce and ginger; cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add green onions last.

TOSS pasta and meat mixtures in large serving bowl.Add peanuts for an extra crunch!

Pasta with Asparagus

Skinnytaste.com  
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1 1/4 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 227.6 • Fat: 7.0 g • Protein: 5.4 g • Carb: 38.3 g • Fiber: 6.9 g   

Ingredients:  

• 1 lb thin asparagus, cut into 2" pieces (tough ends trimmed)
• 6 oz uncooked pasta such as Ronzoni Smart Taste or Dreamfields
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• salt and fresh cracked pepper
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions:

In a large pot boil 4 cups water with salt. When boiling, add asparagus and cook 3-5 minutes, until tender crisp. Drain asparagus in colander reserving 1 cup liquid before draining.

Fill pot with salted water, cover and boil for pasta. When water boils cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.

Meanwhile, in a sauté pan heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook until golden, addasparagus, salt and pepper and sauté about 1-2 minutes, tossing with oil and garlic.

In a small bowl combine egg yolk, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, 1/4 cup reserved asparagus liquid, salt and pepper. Mix well. After pasta is drained return to pot andmix with egg mixture. Cook on medium-low about 2 minutes, until sauce thickens and sticks to pasta. Toss in asparagus and mix well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. If pasta seems too dry add more reserved liquid a tablespoon at a time.

Serve with additional grated cheese.

Baked Ziti

Courtesy of: Pickett's Picks

1 pound ziti or an tubular pasta

1 onion

1 pound ground turkey or beef, browned

2 jars spaghetti sauce

6 oz. sliced provolone cheese

1 1/2 cup sour cream

6-9 ounces grated mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese (use more if you like)

Preheat oven to 350. Boil pasta for about 7-8 minutes (so they are not all the way cooked). Brown hamburger and onion and then add the spaghetti sauce. Use a 10x13 dish and layer as follows: (if you don't have a 10x13, use 9x13)

Half the pasta, all the provolone, all of the sour cream, half the sauce mixture, remaining pasta, all of the mozzarella, and the remaining sauce mixture. Top with parmesan cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered until the cheeses are melted.

*This is awesome to serve a lot of people. Also, I usually just do my own order and sometimes will have 3 or more layers.

Sesame Noodles

Courtesy of: Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 12 ounces, fluid Thin Noodles, Cooked And Drained
• ¼ cups Soy Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 3 Tablespoons Pure Sesame Oil
• ½ teaspoons Hot Chili Oil
• 4 Tablespoons Canola Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Hot Water
• 4 whole Green Onions, Sliced Thin

Preparation Instructions

Whisk all ingredients (except noodles and green onions) together in a bowl. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
Pour sauce over warm noodles and toss to coat.
Sprinkle with green onions and toss.
Serve in a bowl with chopsticks. Yummy!

Mac and Cheese

{Mac and Cheese}

serves 4

4-5 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni noodles, cooked according to package, drained
2 1/2 cups 1% milk
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt [or to taste]
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper [or to taste]
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano cheese, grated
1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated [I prefer tillamook brand]

place milk in medium saucepan and bring almost to a boil. Slowly whisk in flour, salt, pepper, and whisk as the sauce begins to thicken. When sauce thickens, remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

Pour over noodles until the amount of sauce is how you like the noodles, stir and serve with fresh fruit!

Parmesan Pasta Salad

Courtesy Of: Karlie Merrill

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

¼ pound fettucini, cooked al dente and drained

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ cup chopped cucumber

¼ cup chopped red bell pepper

¼ cup sliced green pepper

¼ cup sliced mushrooms

½ cup small broccoli flowerets

½ cup sliced black olives

½ cup sliced carrots

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Dressing:

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp garlic powder

¾ tsp dried tarragon

½ tsp dried basil

½ tsp dried oregano

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard

juice of ¼ lemon

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup water

Toss chicken and fettuccine with hot olive oil and cool. Add Parmesan and garlic powder and toss well. Refrigerate 1 hour or as long as overnight.

To serve, add cucumbers, red pepper, green peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, olives, carrots, and peas. Combine all dressing ingredients except water in lidded jar and shake well; add water and shake again. Pour over salad and toss thoroughly.

Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Package Lasagna Noodles
6 oz can tomato paste
3 small cans petite diced tomatoes
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
Cottage Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Parmesan Cheese, shredded

Cook noodles according to package directions. Brown Hamburger. Add Tomato Paste, Diced Tomatoes, and Italian Seasoning. Cover and simmer Meat Sauce for 20 min. In 11X7 baking dish layer: Pasta, Meat Sauce, Cottage Cheese, and Mozzarella Cheese. Repeat 2 more times but on top layer omit cottage cheese and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Creamy Spinach Lasagna

10 oz. pkg. Lasagna noodles
2 14 oz. pkg. chopped spinach (cooked and drained)
2 lb. ground beef
1/4 lb. bulk sausage
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 small carton cottage cheese
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
Parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef and sausage. Add spices and simmer for 5 minutes. In a greased casserole dish add one layer at a time. 2 times:

1st layer: Lasagna, then meat, spinach, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. Repeat for second layer.

Pour soup (diluted and warmed) on top, pour over tomato sauce, and sprinkle Parmeasan cheese on top.

Cook at 350 for 45-55 minutes.