Some things honestly don't need descriptions. Sometimes they don't even need recipes. Since a picture's worth a thousand words, how 'bout I just give you one and quit the gabbing.
It's been a heck of a couple of weeks around here and any reason's a good one to have a rich and comforting dinner. Right? This bunch of glorious goo is a take on the baked pasta we've had on this site before but to tell you the truth, I winged it this time, kinda' like the time before. I just put my apron on along with my thinking cap and went to work.
Sauteed onion and garlic, a pound of spicy hot Italian sausage, a handful of dried Italian herbs, and a jar of marinara made up the red gravy. The microwave made short work of the bechamel - hey it's easier to wash a 2 cup measure than a pot, wouldn't you say and no, I can't put either in the dishwasher because our pretty stainless lined Maytag purchased in April, 2011 went south...did the swan dive....deep six...finis...kaput...done... but I'll whine about that later.
Combined with gently cooked potato gnocchi fresh from Trader Joe's shelves, some marinated mozzarella balls and a dusting of parmesan cheese, the casserole hit the oven just before Big Guy drove into the garage. Twenty minutes later dinner was served to an extremely appreciative audience of two with dibs on the leftovers for lunch today. So there you have it!
Incidentally, as you see from the link and the photo, this combination of meat sauce and bechamel will work with darn near any pasta, although rigatoni works best because the big tubes hold a lot of the sauces.
You could try the same method using steamed or pre-roasted cauliflower, instead of the pasta or in addition to it. How about grilled grilled eggplant or roasted peppers or summer squash or ... geez we're on a roll here now aren't we?
It's simple, hearty and incredibly delicious good grub.
A year ago - Sun Dried Tomato Pesto on Halibut
Two year's ago - Fettucini Alfredo with Crab
That does look good - kinda makes me wish I could eat tomatoes - kinda... Sorry to hear about the dishwasher - that is really sad news!
Posted by: Lea | 09/12/2012 at 08:07 AM
Lea - I wish you could eat tomatoes too, but you know it would be just as good if not better with just the sausage/onion/garlic stuff and more bechamel. I love that creamy rich yummy stuff. LOL
As for the dishwasher ...the new GE we bought was installed on Monday and it doesn't work either same issue - the control panel. Some coincidence huh?
Posted by: June | 09/12/2012 at 08:13 AM
I could eat seconds on this one and you know what a big eater I am. Nothing like a bowl of gooey goodness to make the blues go away. That sucks about the dishwasher...what are the odds?
Posted by: Lorraine | 09/14/2012 at 09:46 AM
Lorraine - this kinda' comfort grub is just so darn delish isn't it? About the dishwasher - yup and we're still without one, and we've a dinner party tonight. Wouldn't ya' know, but at least there's running water in the kitchen. LOL
Posted by: June | 09/14/2012 at 11:28 AM