Pasta Essentials Pasta Meatball Cupcakes Recipes

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS (CUPCAKES)

Steps:

• Use both the unsweetened cocoa powder and yellow food coloring to tint the icing. Spread a thin layer on top of each of the 10 cupcakes and arrange on a platter, four down the center and three on each side. Place so they are just touching each other. This will form the bed for your "pasta".
• Put remaing icing in a pastry bag, press the air out then seal. Using a plain tip pipe the icing all over the cupcakes to look like spaghetti letting some fall over the sides of the cupcakes for an authentic look.
• Place the hazelnuts and strawbery preserves in a bowl and toss to coat Spoon a bit of the preserves on top of each cupcake then place a hazelnut (meatball) on each and let that extra meatball fall on the side of the platter. Sprinkle with the grated white chocolate (parmesan). Place the chocolate chunk on a small plate along with a mini grater and bring to the table when you serve your spaghetti dessert.
• Enjoy your spaghetti & meatballs!

MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add marinara sauce and ricotta cheese; mix to combine. Add cooked pasta and mix to combine. Season with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
• Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of sauce without meatballs. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top. Add another layer of sauce with meatballs on top and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Add another layer of 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Add the rest of the sauce and meatball mixture on top, followed by remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake until cheese starts to turn golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

PASTA ESSENTIALS: PASTA & MEATBALL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• Chef's Note: Later on, in this recipe, I'm going to give you some recommendations for the meatballs, plus the alfredo and pasta sauce. You could always buy frozen meatballs, and jars of sauce... but where's the fun in that?
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 350f (175c).
• Add the alfredo sauce to the cooked pasta, and toss to combine.
• Use some oil, or cooking spray on the cupcake holders.
• Fill each of the cups with the pasta, and press down.
• Add the provolone to the top, and press down.
• Place in the preheated oven, and bake until the cheese melts, and begins to bubble, about 20 - 25 minutes.
• Chef's Note: Remove from oven, ladle some pasta sauce on a nice serving plate, and place the pasta cupcake on top of the sauce.
• Add a meatball, and sprinkle with Parmesan.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Serve while nice and hot... possibly with some crusty bread. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
• RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS
• Creamy Alfredo Sauce: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/sauce-essentials-down-dirty-alfredo-sauce.html
• Yummy Meatballs: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/pork/delicious-beef-pork-meatballs.html?r=10
• Brilliant Pasta Sauce: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/italian-tomato-starter-sauce.html?r=7