Cabbage and Bows

Cabbage and Bows

1 lb of Bow tie pasta

5 onions sliced

1 medium cabbage shredded

2 garlic cloves diced

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

2-3 T butter

salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package.

Melt butter and oil in large saute pan. Add onion and cabbage to pan and saute about 5 minutes. Add garlic and continue to stir for another 5-10 minutes. Add to pasta. Season as needed

Ricotta Red Pepper Pasta

Ricotta Red Pepper Pasta

1 lb Penne or other tubular pasta

1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers drained

1 15 ounce container of Ricotta cheese

Chopped fresh parsley 2-3 T

Salt and pepper to taste

1 garlic clove minced

1 T grated lemon peel (yellow part only)

Cook pasta al dente'-do not make mushy pasta-blech

Combine red peppers and 1/2 cup of cheese in blender or food processor puree until smooth. Put in large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Add the pasta and mix again. Take for extra seasoning. Add as needed

Pastiera

This is a recipe my Auntie Lorraine brings to every gathering. It is great for an appetizer!! I even like it for breakfast or dinner with a garden salad..

1 lb of orzo

6 eggs beaten

1 cup of grated Romano cheese

1 lb Muenster cheese cut into small pieces

1 lb Ricotta chese

1/2 stick of Pepperoni cut into small pieces (this can be omitted)

salt and pepper to taste. Go easy on the salt as pepperoni can be very salty.

Cook the Orzo according to the directions on the box. Drain and add to a large mixing bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Spray 9 x 12 pan with oil spray. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until set. Let cool and cut into pieces. I always serve it at room temperature.

Bolognese Sauce

1lb ground beef, turkey or chicken

1 small onion chopped fine

2 celery stalks chopped fine

2 carrots chopped fine

1 can 280z crushed tomatoes

1 c beef broth or chicken if you use chicken or turkey

1 t basil and 1 t thyme (always use fresh if you can)

1 pound of spaghetti

Cook meat in a pan with some olive oil on medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add celery, carrot and onion and saute for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess fat.

Stir in tomatoes, broth, basil, and thyme and 3/4 cup of water. Bring to to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes or until all the flavors marry together.

Cook pasta and toss together!!!!

Fussili (Jerry) and Basil

If anyone is a Seinfeld fan, you will get the name of this recipe.

This is a recipe that was either my Grandmother's or my Aunt's on my Dad's side. Simple and delicious.

1lb of Fussili (you can use any kind of pasta) but then the joke....

1/2 cup fresh basil sliced (roll leaves in a cigar shape then slice thinly across cigar)

1/2 cup chopped pimento's

1/2 sliced black olives

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2-3 cloves of garlic chopped finely

Salt and pepper-make sure it is well seasoned

3/4 cup of olive oil (you could use a little less and add some pasta water if you are watching your figure ;)

Cook the pasta as directed.

Just before the pasta is done heat the olive oil in a big saute' pan over med heat. Add the garlic and saute until lightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients heat til warm. Drain pasta and toss all the ingredients together. Grate some cheese over it...