Italian Sausage Rigatoni Bake

This casserole combines all of our favorite Italian flavors, 

but the fresh mozzarella really sets it apart!

Serve this with a warm Ciabatta Bread

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
5 cups marinara sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
1 pound sliced part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions; drain.
• In a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms and pepper over medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Stir in marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cream. Add rigatoni and toss to coat.
• In each of two greased 8-in. square baking dishes, layer one-fourth of the rigatoni mixture and one-fourth of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, until heated through and cheese is melted, 25-35 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if tops brown too quickly.)
  
  
  Freeze option: Cool unbaked casseroles; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake casseroles as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

From: tasteofhome.com

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

This chicken Parmesan is done casserole style (so, no breading or frying!), but still offers up that irresistible combination of tender chicken, crunchy/cheesy coating, and flavorful sauce."     

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (not too large)

2 cups prepared marinara sauce

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil                                    

1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 (5 ounce) package garlic croutons

                                                             

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and hot red pepper flakes.
3. Arrange the chicken breasts in bottom of the dish, and pour marinara sauce over chicken. Sprinkle basil over marinara sauce, and top with half the mozzarella cheese, followed by half the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on the croutons, then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven until cheese and croutons are golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 35 minutes to an hour, depending on the shape and thickness of your chicken breasts. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a chicken breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).  

Oven Baked Mostaccioli

A couple of years ago, I hosted a wedding in my backyard for my son Casey and his lovely bride, Cierra.
For the reception I served this pasta dish.  It got rave reviews.   And I was super happy with how it turned out.  I used a variety of pasta sauces.  And we even had Best Choice Mostaccioli noodles at the store. This recipe is loaded with cheese, but that's not what makes it so special.  It's the Italian Sausage.  I also served garlic bread sticks and an iceberg and green leaf salad with very thin sliced red onions, sliced pimentos, and an Italian Salad dressing.    I promise you won't be disappointed.

1 pound Harter House (made in house) bulk sweet Italian sausage 
1 medium green bell pepper
1 large chopped onion
5 cups meatless spaghetti sauce
1 - 16 ounce package mostaccioli noodles  (or penne pasta noodles)
4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Oven Temp: 350°
Cooking Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Pan Type: baking pan
Preheat Oven.

Cook mostaccioli according to package directions for firm pasta.
Brown the sausage, onions and green pepper until meat is no longer pink inside.
Stir often to break up the sausage.
Drain well.
Add sauce, bring mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
Put small amount of sauce in bottom of pan.
Next, layer one half of the mostaccioli pasta over the sauce and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese.
Cover with 2 cups of sauce.
Repeat layers and top with parmesan cheese.
Bake for allotted time.
Serve this oven baked mostaccioli recipe with your favorite garlic bread.
Serves: 9 – 12

Homemade Stromboli

 I absolutely love Stromboli.

Stromboli makes a wonderful meal, but also works as an appetizer or game day snack.

I found this recipe at Sallysbakingaddiction.com
This link has step by step directions with photos.

Also, you can use store bought pizza dough or make a homemade pizza dough.

You can customize your Stromboli with your favorite various fillings. 

Ingredients

Homemade Dough for 2

• 1 and 1/3 cups warm water (between 100-110°F, 38-43°C)
• 2 and 1/4 teaspoons instant or active-dry yeast (1 standard packet)
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for hands and work surface

Fillings for 2

• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 pound thinly sliced meats such as Italian cold cuts, deli ham, or large pepperoni slices*
• 3/4 – 1 pound cheese (about 3 cups shredded or about 16-20 slices deli cheese)*

Egg Wash & Topping for 2

• egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon water
• optional: a light sprinkle of chopped fresh or dried parsley, flaky/coarse sea salt, ground pepper, Italian seasoning, and/or grated or shredded Parmesan cheese.
  
  

---

Instructions

1. Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. *If you don’t have a stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula in the next step.
   
   
2. Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes (for a visual, watch me do it in the video above!). The dough can be a little too heavy for a mixer to knead it, but you can certainly use the mixer on low speed instead. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading.
   
   
3. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray– just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60-90 minutes or until double in size. If using instant yeast, this takes about 1 hour. (Tip: For the warm environment on a particularly cold day, heat your oven to 150°F (66°C). Turn the oven off, place the dough inside, and keep the door slightly ajar. This will be a warm environment for your dough to rise. After about 30 minutes, close the oven door to trap the air inside with the rising dough. When it’s doubled in size, remove from the oven.)
   
   
4. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
   
   
5. Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. Divide in half. (If you aren’t making 2 Strombolis, freeze the other half of dough. See freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each half of dough into a 10×16 inch rectangle. I like to use my hands to square off the edges, as shown in the video above. If the dough keeps shrinking as you try to shape it, cover it lightly and let the dough rest for 10 minutes before trying again. (The gluten just needs to settle.)
   
   
6. Add fillings: Mix melted butter and garlic together. Spread all over each rectangle. Sprinkle each with parsley. When you start layering on meats and cheeses, leave a 1 inch border on the bottom and sides and a 3 inch border on top. (Basically you’ll have an empty 3×16 inch gap on top that only has butter/garlic on it. This is because when rolling, the fillings will be pushed forward. See photos and video above if you need a visual.) Arrange a layer sliced meats onto each dough, usually about 8-10 slices on each depending on size and thickness of slices. Add a layer of cheese. Repeat with more meat and cheese until all is used– about 1/2 pound meat and 1/2 pound cheese per Stromboli. Brush all edges with egg wash, including 3 inch gap at the top. This helps the Stromboli hold its rolled shape. Slowly roll each into a tight 16 inch log, folding in the two ends as you roll. See me do this in the video above. Dust your hands or the dough with flour if things become too sticky. Carefully transfer each to lined baking sheets. Pinch or tuck in ends to seal if they became unfolded.
   
   
7. Brush each Stromboli with egg wash and, if desired, optional toppings. Using a very sharp knife, cut 3-4 slits into the tops of each, which helps steam escape. At this point, you can cover shaped Stromboli tightly and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
   
   
8. Bake for about 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown– if you have an instant read thermometer, the center of the Stromboli should be at least 200ºF (93ºC). If meats are particularly greasy (like pepperoni), some grease will spill out the sides. Cheese may bubble out the sides or top slits, too. If baking both at the same time, rotate pans halfway through baking and extend bake time (if needed) by 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cutting board and slicing.
   
   
9. Serve plain or with pizza/marinara sauce for dipping.
   
   
10. Cover and store leftover Stromboli (slices or whole) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

This easy meat sauce takes just a few minutes of prep and then a low simmer on the stove for a deep, meaty-flavored, classic spaghetti everyone will love.

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef or Harter House Boston Burger
1 yellow onion chopped
4 stalks celery chopped
4 garlic cloves minced or pressed
1 29- ounce can diced tomatoes
1 29- ounce can tomato sauce
1 6- ounce can tomato paste
2 7- ounce cans sliced mushrooms
1 cup red wine
1 15- ounce can beef broth
5-6 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 4 teaspoons dried
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried spaghetti noodles
grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. In a large heavy bottomed stock pot over medium high heat, cook the ground beef until browned, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the rendered fat and add the meat back to the pot.
2. Add the chopped onion, celery and garlic and cook until the vegetables soften, about 5-7 more minutes.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the spaghetti noodles and Parmesan), stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer, stir and cover with a lid, and cook for at least three hours on medium low heat, stirring occasionally.
4. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions in generously salted water. Drain and mix into the spaghetti sauce.
5. Serve with grated or ground Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Recipe Notes

I love to add some Harter House Homemade Sweet Italian Sausage.

The meat sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week or saved in a gallon ziplock bag and frozen for up to 3 months.

This recipe comes from:  Foodiecrush.com

Bacon and Egg Spaghetti

Sean and Jen are a couple from the US currently traveling the world full-time.
Their food blog has cultural classics from all over the globe.  I have saved their website in my favorites and hope to experience some new flavors.


This Bacon and Egg Pasta Recipe would be a great weekday dinner or a perfect addition to a Sunday Brunch menu.

This recipe uses familiar ingredients.  It's simple, and delicious.

Ingredients

1 lb dry spaghetti
6 strips of thick sliced bacon, 8 strips if using a thinner
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
handful of roughly chopped Italian parsley
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Instructions

1. Add 4 - 5 quarts of salted water to a rapid boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente.
2. In the mean time, brown bacon in a pan until crispy. Remove bacon and blot on a paper towel. Crumble when cool.
3. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and garlic to the pan and cook until the garlic just begins to brown (do not burn).
5. Crack eggs into the pan and cook until the egg whites are almost set (the yolks should still be runny in order to create the sauce. 
6. Add the drained pasta, bacon and crushed red pepper to the pan and stir, breaking up the egg whites. 
7.  Add additional olive oil (or you can use a little of the pasta water) if the pasta is not completely coated with sauce.
8. Toss with the cheese and the parsley along with a sprinkle of salt and fresh ground pepper. 

FROM
Venturists
Adventures in Food and Travel

Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce

Yield:  2 heaping cups, for about 6 servings and 1 1/2 pounds pasta

Time:  At least 4 hours

After the death in 2013 of Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed the way Americans cook Italian food, The NY Times asked readers which of her recipes had become staples in their kitchens. Many people answered with one word: “Bolognese.” Ms. Hazan had a few recipes for the classic sauce, and they are all outstanding. This one appeared in her book “The Essentials of Classic Italian Cuisine,” and one reader called it “the gold standard.” Try it and see for yourself.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons butter plus 1 tablespoon for tossing the pasta
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ⅔ cup chopped celery
• ⅔ cup chopped carrot
• ¾ pound ground beef chuck OR you can use 1 part pork to 2 parts beef 
  (Harter House Boston Burger is 60% beef and 40% Pork)                
• Salt
• Black pepper, ground fresh from the mill
• 1 cup whole milk
• Whole nutmeg
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 ½ cups canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, cut up, with their juice
• 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds pasta
• Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at the table 

Preparation

1. Put the oil, butter and chopped onion in the pot and turn the heat on to medium. Cook and stir the onion until it has become translucent, then add the chopped celery and carrot. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring vegetables to coat them well.
2. Add ground beef, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of pepper. Crumble the meat with a fork, stir well and cook until the beef has lost its raw, red color.
3. Add milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add a tiny grating -- about 1/8 teaspoon -- of nutmeg, and stir.
4. Add the wine, let it simmer until it has evaporated, then add the tomatoes and stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients well. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn the heat down so that the sauce cooks at the laziest of simmers, with just an intermittent bubble breaking through to the surface. Cook, uncovered, for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. While the sauce is cooking, you are likely to find that it begins to dry out and the fat separates from the meat. To keep it from sticking, add 1/2 cup of water whenever necessary. At the end, however, no water at all must be left and the fat must separate from the sauce. Taste and correct for salt.
5. Toss with cooked drained pasta, adding the tablespoon of butter, and serve with freshly grated Parmesan on the side.

Notes:  Lisa added garlic and basil and used San Marzano tomatoes. (San Marzano canned tomatoes are available at Harter House in the World Flavors section.) Those always make a difference when it’s not tomato season. It was delicious. I simmered it for a very long tine. Probably closer to 4 hours than 3.

Recipe from the New York Times Cooking 
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015181-marcella-hazans-bolognese-sauce?q=bolognese




  

Chicken Parmigiana

This is definitely one of my favorite recipes.

I know you will love it also.  ~Shelly

Tender pieces of crumbed chicken are topped with homemade tomato sauce and grated cheese, and then oven baked until the cheese is golden and melted. The tomato sauce and crumbed, uncooked chicken can be prepared in advance but it is best to cook the chicken and assemble the dish just before it goes into the oven.Serves 4

Tomato Sauce

Makes about 1 1/3 cups.

1 tablespoon oil
1/2 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 can crushed/diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar, firmly packed
Salt and pepper

Chicken

4 skinless chicken breast fillets or tenderloins
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
1/3 cup plain flour
About 1 cup pamko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup grated parmesan
About 1/2 cup oil, for frying

Cheese Topping1 1/3 cups, Fresh Mozzarella OR grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup, lightly packed grated tasty provolone cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Fresh Basil


Heat oil in a heavy-based medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until onion has softened but not browned. Add tomatoes, basil and brown sugar, increase heat and bring to the boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for about 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has reached the desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for 10 minutes, and then puree sauce in a blender or food processor.

Trim any fat from chicken. If using chicken breasts, cut them in half horizontally. Cover chicken with a freezer bag and lightly pound with the flat side of meat mallet to flatten. © exclusivelyfood.com.auWhisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Coat one piece of chicken in flour and shake to remove excess. Then dip the chicken into the egg and milk mixture ensuring that all of the flour is moistened.

Then coat the chicken in pamko breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to ensure crumbs adhere. Repeat with remaining pieces of chicken.



To fry chicken, heat some of the oil in a heavy-based frying pan over medium-high heat. We cook the chicken in two batches using 1/4 cup of oil for each batch (the number of batches will be determined by the size of your frying pan and you'll need to divide the oil evenly between each batch). Fry the chicken in a single layer, without overcrowding the pan, until golden brown.  They will not yet be cooked through.

Wipe the pan out with paper towels between each batch of chicken to remove any crumbs. This prevents the overcooked loose crumbs adhering to the next batch of chicken.

Drain cooked chicken on paper towels.

Place cooked chicken in a large baking dish and spread with sauce. Sprinkle with combined cheeses and basil.

Bake at 200 degrees Celsius (180 degrees fan-forced) for about 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden. We sprinkle the chicken parmigiana with chopped parsley before serving.

recipe adapted from

www.exclusivelyfood.com.au

Pasta With Fresh Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat.

4 - 6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Crushed red pepper (optional)

2 ½ cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm  (*see recipe)

6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature

Grated pecorino

Basil leaves, for garnish

* Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce

Preparation

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.
2. Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.
3. Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).
4. Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

Recipe by David Tanis

Check out this website https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipe

for 39 Bright and Beautiful Summer Pastas.

Chicken Parmesan Lasagna

This recipe is lightened up, but has big Italian flavor!

I use ground chicken here, which is hearty, and full of protein.  I also cut the ricotta cheese waaaaaay down. Many recipes call for up to 2 pounds! I used 2 cups in this recipe, and still found it plenty creamy. I also cut calories by only using the Parmesan and Panko on top of the lasagna.

P.S. For the sauce in this recipe feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand, or try making it homemade!

Ingredients

For the Ground Chicken:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil (I used extra virgin but use whatever brand/variety you like best)
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, optional (but they give a nice kick!)
• 1 lb. Ground Chicken
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

For the Panko:

• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Panko Bread Crumbs

For Lasagna:

• 12 Lasagna Noodles, boiled according to package
• 2 1/2 cups Ricotta Cheese (I used whole-milk here, but you may use skim)
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 3 1/2 cups Marinara Sauce, Store-bought or Homemade will work OK
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated

Garnish:

• Fresh Basil and Parsley, chopped

Instructions

For the Ground Chicken:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-heat. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using); saute for 2-3 minutes. Add in ground chicken, salt, and pepper and cook - breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon - until golden brown and cooked all the way through; 6-8 minutes. Transfer the chicken mixture to a clean plate; set aside. Return empty pan to the burner - you will use this again for the panko.

For the Panko:

1. Heat the olive oil (in the same skillet you used for the chicken) over medium-high heat. Add in the panko bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until crispy and golden. Remove from heat and transfer breadcrumbs to a small bowl; set aside.

For the Lasagna:

1. Boil 12 lasagna noodles according to package directions. While they're boiling, prepare the ricotta cheese.

For the Ricotta:

1. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, egg yolk, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil; set aside.

Assembly:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Spread a 1/4 of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Layer with 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the chicken mixture, 1/4 cup of the marinara sauce, and 1/2 cup of the ricotta cheese, and a 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat this two more times, topping the final layer of noodles with remaining meat, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, panko bread crumbs, and finally, the Parmesan cheese, in that order. Cover the lasagna tightly with a piece of lightly oiled foil. Bake for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for 15 more minutes. Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil.

This recipe by https://bakerbynature.com/lightened-up-chicken-parmesan-lasagna/