Three-Cheese Pasta

Thank you, Aunty Janet for this great recipe;  it has definitely been on our favorites list for a long time!  It’s a good make-ahead  or make-and-take dish and can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd.  We add a bit of red chili paste or hot sauce for a hit of heat.   Also, the leftovers improve with a night in the fridge to really let the flavors develop.  What more could you ask for in a pasta dish?

Three Cheese Pasta

3 cups penne  (or fusilli or rotini)

700g (1 1/2 lb)  extra-lean ground beef

½ large onion,  chopped

1 tbsp minced garlic (more or less to taste)

2 1/2 cups  marinara sauce

1/2 tin (generous cup) petite-cut stewed tomatoes, garlic & olive oil or similar flavor

2-3 cups grated cheese (use some of each of colby, cheddar, monterey jack)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper (more or less to taste)

1/2 tsp dried, crushed oregano

Crumble ground beef into hot frying pan.  Sprinkle with  salt, pepper and oregano.  Add chopped onion and stir and and fry beef until no or very little pink remains.  Add garlic and cook for a minute more.   If necessary, drain meat.  In a large pot, stir together cooked meat,  marinara sauce and canned tomatoes.  Simmer sauce about 15 minutes.  While the meat sauce is cooking,  make pasta according to package directions.  Drain and keep pasta warm. Taste the meat sauce and adjust seasonings if necessary.  Remove from heat.   Stir in drained pasta and  1 ½ -2 cups of the mixed, grated cheese.  Pour into a 9″x13″ greased baking dish or casserole.  Top with remaining cheese, cover lightly with foil and bake for about ½ hour at 375 degrees F, till mixture is hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.  Remove foil for the last 5 minutes or so if necessary to melt the cheese sufficiently.  Allow pasta to stand  5-10 minutes before serving.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo

1 pkg fresh fettuccine (350-450g)

1 1/3 cups cream (18%)

1/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan  Reggiano cheese (Gruyere is also suitable)

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

freshly ground pepper to taste

1 tbsp finely chopped parsley for garnish

In a large saute pan over low heat, melt butter.  Add minced garlic as butter is melting.  Do not brown.  When butter is completely melted, stir in cream, and continuing over low heat, let the butter and cream gently simmer together about 5-7 minutes.  Add grated cheese, stirring to melt and grind in pepper .  Reduce heat to warm.  While butter and cream are simmering, cook fettuccine according to package directions.  When noodles are cooked, drain and add into sauce.  Sprinkle with parsley to garnish.  Serve immediately.