Italian Sausage and Mozzarella Pasta Bake

This photo has been sitting in my Flickr for a while now so its about time I post the recipe. I have a weak spot for extra cheesy dishes and this one has a whopping 1:1 ratio of pasta to mozzarella. The best part is how each scoop pulls away never-ending tendrils of gooey, melty cheese.

A note:
Leave the pasta boil the pasta two minutes short of al dente because it will finish cooking in the oven. If you boil it to al dente, it will overcook in the oven.

Italian Sausage and Mozzarella Pasta Bake
serves 3 - 4

8 oz. pasta (penne, cellantani, farfalle, campanelle)
2 Italian sausages, removed from casings
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/4 C red wine
1 14oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tsp Italian herb mix
1/8 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp olive oil
8 oz. mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (preferably fresh mozzarella)
1/4 C grated Parmesan


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and boil the pasta to 2 minutes short of the recommended time.

Meanwhile, heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and break into bite size pieces. When the sausage has browned, remove and set aside. Add the onion and some salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat until the onions have softened, then add the Italian sausage back in. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1/4 C red wine and cook until almost evaporated. Add the drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and herbs, and a little sugar to taste. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the pasta to the sauce and toss to combine. Add half of the mozzarella and mix it into the pasta. Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish. Top with the remaining half of mozzerella cubes and grated Parmesan. Bake until bubbly and lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.

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Boil n Bake Baby Back Ribs – Crime Against Nature Or Just Guilty of Being Delicious

Here’s what I know: I took some baby back ribs, simmered them for an hour in a flavorful liquid, glazed them in sauce, roasted them in the oven for about half an hour, and they looked and tasted really good. I also know these boil-n-bake baby back ribs would be great at any party, preferably a Super Bowl party (during which the Giants win the game).

Here’s what I don’t know: Why so many people will lose their minds over the fact that I boiled these ribs. They’ll say it’s a crime against nature, and that these are just not the same as baby backs slowly roasted over smoky coals for hours and hours. Well, duh.

These aren’t meant to replace, or even compete with, a traditionally barbecued version. This is simply a fast and tasty alternative method for having a nice stack of ribs appear on your snack table. Seriously, what’s the problem?

This is one of those recipes where I don’t want or expect you to use the same stuff I did. This is more about the quick and dirty method than any specific ingredients. I would make sure the simmering liquid is very well salted, and have a decent amount of acid and spice, but other than that, anything goes.

As far as the glaze, I just threw a bunch of stuff in a mixing bowl, in a sort of stream of saucy consciousness, but very much enjoyed the results. Chinese 5-spice is wonderful with pork, and created a beautifully aromatic base for the sweet, sour, and spicy sauce.

By the way, if it looks like I was a little short on sauce, I was, but made a little more while they were roasting, and it was fine. The amounts below will give you plenty for a rack of baby back ribs. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 slab baby back ribs

2 1/2 quarts cold water

1/2 cup rice vinegar

6 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 onion, chopped

2 tbsp kosher salt (less if using fine salt)
1 tbsp Chinese 5-spice

1 tsp red chili flakes

2 bay leaves

For the glaze:

1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce

1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 1/2 tbsp ketchup

1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 1/2 tbsp honey

1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp sambal chili paste, or to taste

1/2 tsp Chinese 5-spice

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Blogger Spotlight Cook Bake Decorate

   Its that time again to introduce to you another fantastic blog! Im especially excited about this one. Her name is Muriel from Cook Bake and Decorate!  I just ♥ Muriels blog! Her blog is filled with really cute decorating ideas and a ton of yummy recipes. She definitley speaks my food language. Everything she makes Ive either thought of making or have made before. Shes another foodie twin of mine ; )  She has an amazing dessert to share with yall today, so here she is.....

  Hi everyone!  My name is Muriel Miller from the blog Cook Bake & Decorate, and I am seriously more than honored to be a guest blogger on Hollys blog today! I have loved Hollys blog from the second I came across it and have tried and LOVED so many of her recipes. It has been so much fun getting to know Holly through her wonderful blog.

  I am originally from Orem, UT but am currently living in Houston, TX right now. I have always had a passion for food and it wasnt till I got married 4 years ago that I really learned that I have a love of cooking and baking too! When I started my blog a few months back, I would have never imagined that I was going to meet so many fun and wonderful people out there that share the same passion for cooking as I do!  On my blog I also like to share fun design or decorating ideas that either I have done myself, or things that I have fallen in love with either through magazines, or photos on the web. I hope you will all stop by sometime and say Hi! And I want to give one last shout out to Holly for allowing me to share my blog with all of you! Thanks again girl! You Rock!

  Now for my recipe, I am going to share with you an amazing pie recipe that my mom has been baking for our family ever since I can remember. It has become one of my husbands favorite desserts that I bake for him and I hope it will be one that you and your families will all love!

Peanut Butter Pie:
Recipe:
For the Peanut Butter Goodness:
3/4 cup Peanut Butter (we prefer creamy but if you like a little crunch then use crunchy P.B.)
1 cup Powdered Sugar

For the Pudding:
3 Tbsp. Cornstarch
1 Tbsp. Flour
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/8 tsp. Salt
3 cups Milk (whole milk is best)
3 Egg Yolks (save the whites for the meringue)
2 Tbsp. Butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

For the Meringue:
3 Egg Whites
1/4 tsp. Cream of Tarter
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar

1. To start, mix together the peanut butter and powdered sugar till it forms into little balls. (You can add more powdered sugar if needed) Set aside. Now I just use a frozen store bought pie crust because Ive actually never made a pie crust from scratch yet. (Its on my to do list) So you just take a fork and poke holes on the bottom and sides of the crust before it bakes so it bakes evenly. Bake defrosted crust @ *400 for 10-12 min. Let crust completely cool then sprinkle 1/3 of Peanut Butter Mixture on to the bottom of the crust.

2.  Now take all the ingredients for the pudding (except for the butter and vanilla) and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. When done boiling remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Pour into the pie crust about 3/4 of the way to the top.(you may have some pudding left over) Now sprinkle another 1/3 of the P.B. mixture on top of the pudding.

3.  In a chilled bowl, beat egg whites till fluffy. Mix in the cream of tarter and sugar and beat till stiff peaks form (about 5-7 minutes) Place meringue on top of pudding and then sprinkle remaining 1/3 of P.B. mixture on top and bake @ *375 till browned on top  (about 8-10 minutes watching closely)

4. Let pie chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
Enjoy!!!


  

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