YumSugar

Electric Pink Pasta Is Oh-So-Scrumptious

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:38 -0700

All month long, we've bombarded you with decadent macaroni and cheese recipes. While mac and cheese is delicious and comforting, with an excess of milk and cheese, it's not the healthiest pasta. That's why I thought it was time I share a light and fresh pasta like this rigatoni with ricotta and roasted beets.Don't be alarmed by the vibrant color, the beets stain the pasta pink. It may look unfamiliar, but it tastes earthy and thanks to the ricotta, slightly creamy. Roasted red onions and tons of spinach make this pasta hearty enough to serve as a main course. The alarming yet fun color would please the palate of children, especially around Halloween. To check out the recipe, read more.

Rigatoni With Ricotta and Roasted Beets
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 beets (about 3/4 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 pound rigatoni pasta
5 cups baby spinach (about 8 ounces)
1 cup ricotta cheese
Grated peel from 1 lemon, plus 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°.
On a foil-lined baking sheet, toss the beets with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly with foil and roast for 15 minutes.
Unwrap, then arrange the beets in a single layer.
In a small bowl, toss the onion with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper; arrange on the baking sheet. Roast, tossing halfway through, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente.
Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot and toss with the spinach.
In a bowl, whisk the ricotta, reserved pasta water, lemon peel, lemon juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add to the pasta along with the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper; toss.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

View 8 Photos ›

Fast & Easy Dinner: Rigatoni With Grilled Peppers and Onions

partysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:50:26 -0700

In the warmer months, take advantage of the grill and use it to infuse smoky flavor into vegetables. Grilled veggies are great in everything from salads to sandwiches to pasta, as is the case with this recipe.

Thick chunks of charred red onions and bell peppers are tossed with hearty rigatoni. Spinach provides a crispness and basil gives the pasta a summery, farm-fresh quality.

Don't be limited by the ingredient list; if onions and peppers aren't your thing, substitute other vegetables like mushrooms, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, or broccoli rabe. Check out the satisfying, meatless recipe when you read more.

Rigatoni With Grilled Peppers and Onions
From Real Simple

Ingredients

2 medium red onions, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rings
2 large red bell peppers, cut into quarters
1 tablespoon olive oil
kosher salt and pepper
12 ounces (4 to 5 cups) rigatoni
1 bunch spinach, stems trimmed, or one 5-ounce package
1 cup (about 3 1/2 ounces) grated Parmesan
3/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high.
In a large bowl, toss the onions, bell peppers, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into bite-size pieces.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta, and return the pasta to the pot. Add the grilled vegetables, spinach, the reserved pasta water, and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan to the pasta and toss to combine.
Top with the basil and the remaining Parmesan before serving.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Fast & Easy Dinner: Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Bacon

partysugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:01:55 -0800

In an attempt to help my dad lower his cholesterol, I've been looking for recipes that feature whole grains. When I came across this recipe for whole wheat pasta tossed with a fragrant bacon and tomato sauce, I had to share it with both my dad and you! This hearty yet health-friendly pasta is scrumptious on a cold night, and is great when paired with a crunchy salad and crisp drink. It's simple to make the sauce and you will have dinner on the table in no time. Get the recipe when you read more

Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Bacon
From Rachael Ray

Salt
1 pound whole wheat rigatoni
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 pound thick-cut bacon, chopped
3 fresh or dried bay leaves
1 large onion, quartered and sliced
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, such as San Marzano
Flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (a generous handful)
Freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, to pass around the table

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving a ladle of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta cooks, heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and the bacon and cook until the bacon renders fat and crisps at the edges.
Add the bay leaves and onion and season with a little salt and a healthy dose of pepper.
Cook until the onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the broth and cook until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, bring to a boil, then simmer to let the flavors combine.
Add the reserved pasta cooking water, the pasta and parsley to the sauce and toss.
Transfer the rigatoni to a serving platter, discard the bay leaves and pass grated cheese around the table.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Fast & Easy Dinner: Baby Artichokes and Sausage Rigatoni

partysugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:01:38 -0700

I've always hated the end of summer. Vacations end, kids go back to school, the weather cools, and my tan fades. The one thing I don't mind about this time of year is the return of hearty comfort foods. Don't panic! Hearty and comforting doesn't mean difficult and time consuming. Tonight's meaty, creamy pasta filled with vegetables and spicy sausage comes together in under an hour and pairs perfectly with a glass of vino tinto. If you don't have access to fresh artichokes, simply substitute your favorite brand of canned artichoke hearts. Be sure to use rigatoni as the thickness of the sauce calls for a more robust pasta. To take the edge off of the end of summer, make this and read more

Baby Artichokes and Sausage Rigatoni
From Sunset magazine

1 1/2 pounds artichokes (1 1/2 in. wide) or 1 can artichoke hearts
1 head fennel (3 1/2 in. wide)
1 pound mild or hot Italian sausages, casings removed
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2 teaspoons fennel seed
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup fat-skimmed chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 pound dried rigatoni pasta
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt, black pepper
fresh dill, optional garnish

If using fresh baby artichokes, break off and discard artichoke leaves down to the pale green, tender inner leaves. Cut off and discard thorny tips. Trim bottoms. Quarter artichokes (they will discolor). Trim out and discard fuzzy centers. Rinse and drain artichokes.
Trim and discard stems and any bruised portions from fennel. Rinse fennel and thinly slice crosswise.
In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium-high heat, frequently stir sausages, breaking up meat with spoon, until brown, about 10 minutes.
Add artichokes, fennel, onion, fennel seed, garlic, and bell pepper to pan. Stir often until onion is limp, about 10 minutes.
Pour wine, broth, and cream into pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until artichokes are tender when pierced, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in 4 quarts boiling water until tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
Drain pasta, put in a serving bowl, and top with artichoke sauce. Garnish with fresh dill if desired. Offer cheese, black pepper and salt to taste.

Serves 8

Nutritional Information CALORIES 526(43% from fat); FAT 25g (sat 10g); PROTEIN 20g; CHOLESTEROL 64mg; SODIUM 711mg; FIBER 4.3g; CARBOHYDRATE 52g

Print recipe with images | without images

Monday's Leftovers: Hamburger Pasta Salad and More

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:01:38 -0700

If you happened to make too many hamburger patties last night, then you've got quite a few options for dinner tonight. You could simply re-heat the patties and indulge in a burger for the second night in a row, or you could crumble up the meat and stew it in a tomato sauce for a simple sloppy joe or add a few extra spices and ingredients and turn it into a chili. Or, once re-heated, you could sprinkle on top of a bed of luscious salad greens. If none of those options sound appealing, how about a hamburger pasta salad? To check out the recipe, read more

Hamburger Pasta Salad
From Essortment

8 oz. rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
4 oz. leftover grilled hamburger paties, diced
2 oz. fresh Roma tomatoes, diced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large clove elephant garlic, finely crushed
2 cups thick set natural Greek or Balkan yogurt
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. fresh basil, finely chopped
Raddichio leaves to serve
parsley sprigs to garnish

Arrange raddichio leaves on a platter.
Using a large salad bowl, combine rigatoni, hamburger chunks, tomatoes and onion. In another bowl, thoroughly mix together garlic, yogurt, salt, black pepper and basil. Pour dressing over salad and mix well.
Spoon rigatoni and hamburger salad onto raddichio leaves. Chill for half an hour and serve cold, garnished with parsley sprigs.

Print recipe with images | without images

Image Source

Rigatoni with Ricotta and Roasted Beets

partysugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:38:50 -0700

View Slideshow ›

Fast & Easy Dinner: Baked Ravioli

partysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:50:01 -0700

While there are some pastas, like macaroni and rigatoni, that are commonly used to make baked casserole-style dishes, other types, for example ravioli, are often overlooked.

This recipe thinks outside the baking dish by tossing store-bought ravioli with a quick homemade marinara sauce and lots of grated cheese.

The resulting meal is a crunchy, chewy, comforting mess of pasta that's sure to please the children in your life. For a balanced dinner, serve mixed greens on the side. Get the creative recipe when you read more.

Baked Ravioli
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, or oregano
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 pounds store-bought ravioli
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add thyme and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, breaking up tomatoes with spoon, until sauce is thickened and reduced to about 5 1/2 cups, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook ravioli in a large pot of boiling salted water just until they float to the top (pasta will continue to cook in oven). Drain pasta; return to pot.

Toss sauce with pasta. Pour pasta into a large gratin dish or 9-by-13-inch baking dish, and sprinkle with cheeses. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Serves 4-6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Pasta Shapes 101

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:01:17 -0800

While spaghetti is the ideal pasta shape for thin, light sauces, when making a thicker hearty sauce a larger pasta shape is ideal. It's important to choose the pasta shape that best compliments the sauce, for example a chunky meat sauce adheres best to pasta shapes with holes and ridges like rigatoni or mostaccioli and rich creamy sauces work best with the slippery noodles of fettuccine. Since today we are all about pasta I thought it would be fun to overview pasta shapes...until I realized that there are over a hundred various kinds! To see a list of interesting pasta shapes, what their name means in English and which type of sauce works best with them, read more

Rotini: (spirals or twists)
Rotini's twisted shape holds bits of meat, vegetables and cheese, so it works well with any sauce, or you can use it to create fun salads, baked casseroles, or stir-fry meals.

Bow Ties, Farfalle: (butterflies)
Bow Ties brighten any meal with their interesting shape. Thick enough for any sauce, or make into a salad or soup.

Ditalini: (little thimbles)
This versatile shape can be used as the base of any dish. Bake it, stir it into soups, or create great salads and stir-fry dishes.

Spaghetti: (a length of cord)
America's favorite shape, Spaghetti is the perfect choice for nearly any sauce, or it can be used to make casseroles or stir-fry dishes. Go beyond tomato sauce and see what your favorite becomes.

Orzo: (barley)
This small, grain shaped pasta can be topped with any sauce, added to soups, or baked as a casserole. Perfect as a side dish as well as a main course.

Fusilli: (twisted spaghetti)
This long, spiraled shape can be topped with any sauce, broken in half and added to soups, or turned into a beautiful salad. Fusilli also bakes well in casseroles.

Penne, Mostaccioli: (quills and small mustaches, respectively)
This tubular pasta goes well with sauce, used in salads, baked in casseroles, or made into stir fry dishes. There are both ridged and smooth versions. The ridged version will allow sauce to cling a bit more.

Ziti: (bridegrooms)
A medium-sized, tubular pasta shape, Ziti is perfect for chunky sauces and meat dishes. It also makes wonderful salads, baked dishes and stir-fry meals.

Rigatoni: (large grooved)
Rigatoni's ridges and holes are perfect with any sauce, from cream or cheese to the chunkiest meat sauces.

Fettuccine: (small ribbons)
Perfect for heavier sauces, like cheese, meat and tomato sauces. For variety, try breaking in half and putting in soups, or use for a salad.

Have I forgotten to mention your preferred pasta shape? Tell me about it below. If you want to learn more about pasta shapes, check out this complete list of the pastas of the world.

Source

Fast & Easy Dinner: Lamb and Eggplant Ragu

partysugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:01:18 -0800

Traditionally, a ragu is a slow cooked meat heavy sauce; the meat is cooked for several hours until it falls off the bone and the sauce is thick. However, a rapid variation is simple to make in under 30 minutes. Ground lamb cooks quickly and is effortlessly flavored with fennel seed, oregano, and red wine. A ribbed pasta like rigatoni or penne is a great choice as the hearty sauce has something to cling to. Pine nuts and crumbled feta top off this wonderfully comforting end of the week dinner. Plus, you can drink the same wine that you used to make the dish! To check out the recipe, read more.

Lamb and Eggplant Ragu
From Eating Well

4 ounces whole-wheat rigatoni or penne
4 ounces ground lamb or lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed
1 1/2 cups diced eggplant
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 8-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup crumbled feta (optional)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
Meanwhile, cook lamb (or beef), garlic and fennel seed in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon, until the lamb (or beef) is browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add eggplant and oil; cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant browns, about 4 minutes.
Add tomato sauce and wine; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Drain the pasta; serve topped with the sauce and sprinkled with pine nuts and feta, if using.

Serves 2.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 422 calories; 10 g fat (3 g sat, 4 g mono); 37 mg cholesterol; 57 g carbohydrate; 20 g protein; 10 g fiber; 343 mg sodium; 795 mg potassium. Vitamin C (30% daily value), Vitamin A (25% dv), Magnesium (24% dv), Potassium (23% dv).

Print recipe with images | without images

It's No Myth - Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2007

YumSugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:33:44 -0700

In today's paper, I read that one of San Franciso's chefs was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs. Sean O'Brien, of Myth, joined nine other chefs in the 2007 honor. After working many years at Gary Danko, O'Brien launched Myth in 2004. Known for its stylish entrees (like rigatoni with foie gras cream), one could say that Myth is known for its romantic and dramatic atmosphere.

I personally have never eaten at Myth (although I love the mac n' cheese, homemade oreos and bag lunches at Cafe Myth - the cheaper lunchtime option), but considering this news, and the fact that Myth also made the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants list, I have a feeling it's going to take a while to get a reservation.

Here are the rest of the 2007's Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs:

April Bloomfield - The Spotted Pig, New York, NY
Gabriel Bremer - Salts, Cambridge, MA
Steve Corry - Five Fifty-Five, Portland, ME
Matthew Dillon - Sitka & Spruce, Seattle, WA
Gavin Kaysen - El Bizcocho, San Diego, CA
Johnny Monis - Komi, Washington, DC
Gabriel Rucker - Le Pigeon, Portland, OR
Ian Schnoebelen - Iris, New Orleans, LA
Paul Virant - Vie, Western Springs, IL
Sean O'Brien - Myth, San Francisco, CA

I think I just added 10 new places to eat on to my list...

If you're interested, Food & Wine magazine has full bios and restaurant info for all of those on the list.