Cheesy Cavatini Cassies Way Recipes

CAVATINI SUPREME

Steps:

• In a large oven safe skillet, saute ground beef and sausage with onions and pepper. When meat is browned, remove from heat and drain. Add mushrooms, marinara, and pasta and mix well. Taste and add seasonings if needed. Mix in pepperoni, Top with Parmesan, then Mozzarella.
• Preheat oven to 350º. Bake about 30 minutes or until the dish is hot and cheese is golden.

THREE CHEESE CAVATINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook pasta according to package directions to "al dente".
• While pasta is cooking, saute mushrooms, onions and garlic in olive oil until tender, remove from heat to cool, do not drain.
• Combine cottage cheese, ricotta, egg, herbs and seasonings.
• Mix cooked pasta with sauce and sauteed onion mixture, and spoon half into bottom of 11x13-inch glass pan.
• Spoon cheese mixture on top of pasta, spreading evenly to the edges. Put 1/2 cup mozzarella on top of cheese mixture. Place sliced pepperoni on top of cheese, then spread remaining pasta/onion/mushroom mixture, then mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, until cheese is browning and bubbly. Allow to rest at least 5 minutes before cutting.

CAVATINI PASTA

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onions and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the water, tomato paste, mushrooms, pepperoni, sauce mix and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour., Meanwhile, for pasta, bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add macaroni and pastas. Return to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes or until tender; drain. Stir into tomato sauce. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish (dish will be full)., Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

CAVATINI II

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine green pepper, onion, pepperoni, mushrooms, tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, and garlic. Cover, and simmer for one hour.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix together pasta, ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, and Parmesan. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, alternate pasta and cheese mixture and sauce mixture, ending with sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

CREAMY CAVATAPPI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook cavatappi according to package directions., Meanwhile, saute garlic in butter in a Dutch oven. Stir in flour and pepper sauce until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes., Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.

CHEESY CAVATINI - CASSIES WAY

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Spray a 9 x 13 or larger deep dish casserole pan with non stick cooking spray. Set aside. Prepare pasta, not quite al dente.
• 2. In a large skillet, add 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Over medium heat, combine ground beef, sausage, pepperoni, onion, green pepper, garlic and seasonings until vegetables are tender and beef, sausage are cooked through. Drain; return to pan.
• 3. Now, stir in the tomato paste.
• 4. Add the sauce and brown sugar. Cover and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes. Stirring occasionally(If getting too thick; stir in the 1/2 - 3/4 cup water to thin out, you don't want the sauce too thin, but not too thick either.)
• 5. In a large bowl; mix together cooked / drained pasta, ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, and Parmesan.
• 6. In prepared baking dish or pan; coat bottom with about 1 cup sauce. Now, add about 3 cups pasta/cheese mixture. Spread evenly.
• 7. Now, add 2 - 2 1/2 cups meat sauce; spread evenly.
• 8. Repeat layers, ending with sauce.
• 9. Place the mozzarella slices evenly on top of the sauce. I then placed the saved pepperoni on top of the cheese. Optional Bake the Cavatini 30 - 45 minutes, or until browning and bubbly.
• 10. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• 11. I served this with a tossed salad, and crusty Italian bread. Tastes like lasagna, but without the fuss...delish!!!