comfort food

i dont know what my deal has been lately but ive been craving carbs!  i didnt exactly know what i wanted but i know i wanted to feel full.  so, while richard was playing with his toys (aka turntables) i decided to make something yummy and this is what came about....

i took this recipe and made my own little version of it.

ingredients:

12 ounce package dry gemelli (its pasta... use whatever you want)

small onion

1 pound fake sausage

1/2 cup white wine

1 15 ounce jar spaghetti sauce

6 ounce can of tomato paste

14.5 ounce can of fire roasted tomatoes

shredded cheese... the more, the better :)

preheat oven to 400.  you will also need to start boiling water for the pasta and get that going.

chop up that onion.  i cant get enough of my nicer dicer.  it is the best thing i have in my kitchen right now... until i get my kitchenaid standing mixer.  dont worry nicer dicer, i will still love you equally.

you will need to brown the meat.  obviously, you dont have to use fake sausage but sausage is needed for this recipe.  so, for you meat lovers... go ahead and eat little wilbur.  anyway... once you start to cook the sausage, add the onion and cook until evenly brown.  (if you are using real meat, once the meat is finished cooking make sure to drain that nasty, greasy fat)  then add the wine, spaghetti sauce, fire roasted tomatoes and tomato paste.  simmer for about 10 minutes.  stir occasionally.  (are you jealous of my cast iron skillets?  its ok, you can be) :)

next toss pasta with the sausage mixture.  from this point, you can do what you like.  you can throw this is a greased 9x13 pan, cover it with cheese and bake it or you can layer it.  one layer pasta, one layer cheese, one layer pasta, one layer cheese... you get the point.  (layering is what i did)  

bake for about 20-25 minutes and then enjoy!!! :)

it was really really really good.... this recipe is very versatile and super easy to make.  you can add and take out whatever you want.  since it is just me and the boy, this dish lasted us all week.  well, i also make eggplant parmesan so between the 2 of those dishes we were set! :)

jumbo stuffed shells with broccoli and spinach

im not good at taking pictures yet... i always seem to forget some part of the preparing or cooking process or the finale.  sorry.  i swear im trying to be better....

yummy.  these are soooooo awesome.  :)  

so, on this one i just threw some stuff together... ill list what i used and you can configure to your needs.  this recipe is pretty versatile so you can add or remove whatever you like.

this makes a lot!!  i baked some and froze some for later.

1 box jumbo shells

2 16 oz ricotta cheese

mozzarella cheese 

grated parmesan cheese

garlic

basil

oregano

pepper

frozen spinach and broccoli

speghetti sauce

4 egg whites

cook shells, dont rinse.

cook broccoli and spinach, then chop well.

in mixing bowl, mix all cheese, garlic, basil,

oregano, pepper and veggies.

spread a layer of sauce in a 9x13 pan.

stuff shells with a mixture and place in pan.

i spread a little more sauce over the shells 

and threw on more cheese (of course) :)

bake at 350 for 35-40 min.

to freeze shells -  dont bake the first.  line 

them on a cookie sheet, freeze and then

place them in a container for use at a later date.

gnocchi? no way!!

so, i dont know when amanda and i got the idea that we were chefs in hiding but it seems to be working out so far.  except for the fact that every time i open my freezer, something falls out.... im seriously running out of room!!  but no matter the obstacle, i forge on.... making more food.   :)

last weekend i got this crazy idea that i could make gnocchi.  i honestly expected it to turn out awful and feel so let down that my cooking streak would be over.  boy was i wrong!  im happy to say the gnocchi turned out excellent and i will be making it again soon.  although i felt like it took forever to make... rolling out the dough, cutting it into bite size pieces, pressing each little piece with a fork...  it really turned out to be worth it.  

(i guess im going to start having to take more pictures of the actual process, seems like i always forget until i have the finished product... sorry)

(this is for 2 servings)

• 2/3 cup dry potato buds for instant mashed potatoes  (yes!!!  instant potatoes!!  lol)
• 2/3 cup boiling water
• 1 egg, room temperature,lightly beaten with a fork
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic and parsley
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 
  
• put the potato flakes or buds in a medium-size bowl and add the boiling water; stir until blended then let cool.

fold in the egg and salt with a wooden or plastic spoon or spatula.

add flour slowly, folding with the spatula, until you have a fairly firm dough that doesn't stick to the bowl.

turn dough out onto a well floured surface and knead lightly into a ball.

you want just be able to work with the mixture without it sticking unduly- but too much flour will result in gnocchi that are more lead than light.

cut dough in half and roll each half into a long cylinder about the thickness of your thumb.  (ok, this did not work for me.  i broke these up into several cylinders because it was much easier to handle that way)

cut into bite-size pieces and press with a fork for shape.

to cook - put 6 to 8 gnocchi in a few quarts of boiling, salted water (too many at once interferes in the cooking process).

as the gnocchi rise to the top of the pot, remove them with a slotted spoon and put them in a colander over a plate to drain further until you are ready to serve.

you can also freeze them for later use... after forming the gnocchi, place on a lightly floured pan and then put them in the freezer until frozen.  once frozen, transfer them into a container and throw back in the freezer.