Spicy Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

This is the one and only photo I have of this amazing dish.  I couldn't hold off for an extra minutes and had to dig right in.  Now that means I will have to make it again soon, SCORE!!!!  I have never seen my father in law eat so much food.  If you follow my blog you know he literally lives like 50 yards away and eats with us a lot.  This was extremely delicious, filling and inexpensive.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 box Rigatoni
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, Pureed
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• dash of hot sauce
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (I originally planned on just peas, but I am clumsy and grabbed the wrong bag.  The carrots were delicious in it.)

 

Directions:

1. Boil Rigatoni according to package instructions, adding in peas and carrots for last minute.
2. Drain pasta and return to pan with a little butter or olive oil.
3. In a separate pan brown sausage with onions until cooked through.
4. Add cooked sausage and onions into a blender or food processor with red pepper flakes and cayenne.
5. pulse a couple times to break up the sausage and incorporate the seasonings.
6. Return sausage to pan and add in tomato puree. (will look a little like dog food, see below)
   
7. In a separate sauce pan melt butter and sprinkle with flour.
8. Stir flour and butter to create a roux.
9. Slowly stir in heavy cream.
10. Stir in garlic and let thicken.
11. Pour cream sauce into meat sauce and stir together.
12. Pour the sausage cream sauce into the pot with the noodles and stir together.
13. Let pasta sit with sauce for about five minutes before serving.

 

 

 

Triple Meat Red Sauce

I am absolutely in love with this sauce and it is extremely easy.  My father in law raved about this and my husband, who claims he doesn't like pasta went for a second helping.  Spaghetti is my all time favorite leftover meal and this was even better the next day.  This makes ALOT of sauce so, I ended up freezing half of it.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup diced prosciutto
• 2 jars favorite marinara
• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

 

Directions: In a large skillet brown beef and sausage with onions.  When meat is cooked throughout add 1/4 of meat mixture, 2oz of prosciutto and garlic into a food processor, blend together until crumbly.  Add all remaining ingredients and blended meat into a lightly greased crock pot.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours and serve over noodles.

Tomato Cream Pasta Shells

This recipe is almost identical to my Rigatoni Bake!  Everyone loved this especially Logan, he literally ate every bite.  I love making spaghetti because its good and sooo easy.  However, if you follow the blog you know I haven't been in the mood for regular spaghetti lately.  This is a quick way to spruce it up and it freezes perfectly!!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 box mini pasta shells
• 1 jar favorite pasta sauce
• 1 cup milk
• 1cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:  In a large pot cook shells according to package instructions. Drain pasta and return to pot and set aside. Brown sausage over medium/high heat and add pasta sauce when cooked through.  In a small sauce pan melt butter and add flour forming a roux.  Slowly add in milk, remove from heat and whisk in cheese, onion and garlic powder until smooth.  Pour cheese sauce into pasta sauce and mix thoroughly.  Add sauce to pot with noodles and stir together and serve.  Freeze leftover in large Ziploc bag or disposable tin pan. 

Spaghetti with Melted Garlic Mozzarella

Like most of you know, I love cheese.  So, why not top it with ooey gooey garlicky cheese?   Spaghetti is an all time classic dish that doesn't really need enhancements.  Well, this idea popped in my head and I had to give it a whirl.  I am in LOVE.  The extra step is so worth the time and don't think I will ever be able to go back to the original.  Initially the plan was to place it under the broiler until it was nice and bubbly however, the dish said, not broiler safe!

Ingredients for spaghetti:

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1/2 box thin spaghetti
• 1 jar favorite marinara
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Ingredients for Garlic Mozzarella:

• 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 tablespoon flour

Directions:  Boil noodles according to package directions.  Rinse, drain and return to pot coating with olive oil.  Meanwhile, brown sausage in a large skillet and add all remaining ingredients.  Simmer for around 10 minutes and add to noodles, coating evenly.  In a small saucepan melt butter and stir in flour, forming a roux.  Slowly stir in milk and garlic.  Remove from heat, stir in cheese, pour over spaghetti and serve!

Baked Sausage Ziti

Hands down my favorite pasta dinner dish!  It's filled with cheese, what's not to love?  This is also my favorite freezer meal to prepare, here is the link to my previous post on freezer meals.  For about $12 I have 4 dinners with bread freezer pans, 2 if I use 8x8 freezer pans. 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 box ziti
• 2 jars favorite pasta sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 bag Italian style cheese
• 1/2 small sweet onion, finely diced
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil

Directions:  Bring large pot of water to boil.  Add pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes until al dente. Drain and add back to pot with olive oil. In a large skillet brown onion and sausage over medium heat.  Stir in spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, seasonings, and add sauce to noodles.  Spray casserole dish or freezer tins with cooking spray. Layer as directed:  1/4 Pasta mixture, 4 slices provolone cheese, 1/2 sour cream, Italian cheese, 1/4 noodle mixture, and top with itialian cheese. (These instructions are for 2 8x8 pans)  If cooking the same day bake covered for 20 minutes and uncovered for 5-10 minutes.

 

To freeze:  Cover with tin foil, label and freeze. Defrost completely before baking and bake as directed above.

Sausage Alfredo Penne

This was a raid the cupboard throw together meal.  Every time I go shopping with my husband he always grabs a jar of the store bought Alfredo sauce.  He loves it, I hate it.  I had a jar of sauce and a pound of Italian sausage so I decided to put them to use.  The sauce is so bland so I added some ingredients for kick and let it simmer for several hours with the sausage to incorporate some flavor.  This is definitely not a skinny girl meal but sometimes you have to indulge.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound penne
• 1 jar alfredo sauce (mine was roasted garlic)
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, optional
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:  In a large skillet brown sausage with garlic.  Add sauce (use milk to shake any excess sauce from jar), sherry, cayenne, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, and salt and pepper.  Simmer for at least and hour.   Boil noodles according to package and add to sauce.  Top with cheese and serve.