Monday, September 27, 2010

Tomato Penne Casserole

So I tried the pasta from Pioneer Woman Cooks, (when i first heard of her blog I thought it sounded totally lame, but I started looking through her recipes and now I think shes hilarious, and super talented) When I took the first bite I was all alone and said out loud "wow". Sometimes I talk to myself. Its really good. So I decided to switch it up since I'm picking mike up at the airport at 5 (YAYA!!) and I want to make it, but be able to have it in the oven cooking while we're gone. So I am putting it into a casserole form. Here we go:

2 cans tomatoe sauce (this is all we need for our little family)
1/4 cup finely diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T olive oil
1 T butter
1/4 c. heavy cream

Sizzle up the onions in butter and oil till they are starting to get tender. Add garlic, and stir and cook for 1 minutes. Pour in sauce and add salt and pepper. (i added a little bit of dried basil) And a pinch of sugar.

Let it simmer for 15 mintues or so or till its thickened. Take off heat and stir in 1/4 cup cream. (more or less, depending on how creamy you like it)

Stir in boiled pasta (don't rinse!! ) and add some of the pasta water to thin it down a bit if its too thick. Pour into baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese and bake till bubbly and cheese is starting to turn golden. (i turned it to broil the last few minutes to get a nice, dark crust on the cheese)
*make sure to not overcook pasta since you'll be baking it.