Two Cheese Pasta Twist Recipes

PENNE WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES AND TWO CHEESES

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, dried basil and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer and mixture thickens to chunky sauce and is reduced to 6 cups, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
• Return pasta to same pot. Toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Pour sauce over and toss to blend. Mix in Havarti cheese. Transfer pasta to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with olives, then Parmesan.
• Bake until pasta is heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with basil.

BEST EVER BAKED SPAGHETTI WITH A TWIST!

Steps:

• 1. In a large heated skillet over medium high brown then drain your meat. I seasoned the meat though not called for with the red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt,and some black pepper.
• 2. In a sauce pot over medium heat sauté the garlic in a little olive oil. Add the 2 jars of pasta sauce,( rinse the jars with a little water) 2 bay leaves,1 tsp basil, 1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp brown sugar and 1/4 tsp pepper flakes. Let it simmer on low while making the cheese sauce. NOTE: I doctored the sauce according to our taste, because the recipe just called for using the sauce right from the jar
• 3. Cheese sauce! This is the best recipe I have come across and it would be wonderful over vegetables too.:-) Melt butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, garlic powder, nutmeg and parmesan. Whisking combine this well and let it come to a bubble. Add the evaporated milk slowly and whisk until it comes to a boil and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese until melted. Taste to see if you want to add salt.
• 4. Heat oven to 350F Lightly spray a 9x13 casserole. Combine the pasta, pasta sauce and meat. Spoon half of it into the casserole. Pour the cheese sauce over the top. Spoon the rest of the pasta mixture over the top. Now top this with the remaining 2 c cheddar. Bake for 25-30 minutes. This can be prepare ahead and refrigerated but it will take longer to bake. This also is supposed to freeze well according to the paper. :-)

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH A TWIST

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water for 6 minutes; drain and set aside.
• 2. In a medium saucepan combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, and dry mustard; stir in milk until smooth. Add butter, worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of sharp cheddar and 1 cup pepper jack cheeses until melted.
• 3. Add macaroni and turn into 2-quart casserole that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Combine remaining cheeses and bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top.
• 4. Bake in 350* oven for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.