Creamy Zucchini And Spinach Pasta Bake Food

CREAMY ZUCCHINI AND SPINACH RIGATONI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes, or until zucchini is crisp-tender. Add flour and seasonings; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in broth; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes, or until thickened. Add Neufchatel; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes, or until melted.
• Drain pasta; return to pan. Add zucchini mixture, spinach, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup mozzarella; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-quart casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
• Bake 10 minutes, or until mozzarella is melted.

BAKED SPINACH AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-14-by-2-inch oval baking dish, or six individual cast-iron pans, with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the scallions and zucchini and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Lightly press most of the water out of the spinach and add it to the pan. Add the rice, basil, parsley, nutmeg, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and toss well. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, the -remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter, and the 1/4 cup Parmesan. Pour the mixture over the spinach and zucchini and smooth the top. Sprinkle with some extra Parmesan and the Gruyere. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

CREAMY SPINACH AND PEPPERONI BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the pepperoni and cook, stirring occasionally, until it just starts to crisp, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach and stir, breaking up the clumps, just to warm. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Cook the rigatoni in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, half each of the Asiago and pecorino to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining Asiago and pecorino. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

ZUCCHINI PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Lightly grease a medium casserole dish.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a blender or food processor, thoroughly mix the Parmesan cheese and crackers.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the onion in the skillet, and cook and stir until tender. Mix in the zucchini, tomato, and garlic, and season with oregano, basil, celery, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook and stir until the zucchini is tender.
• In the prepared casserole dish, mix the pasta with the vegetable mixture and mozzarella cheese. Top evenly with the Parmesan cheese mixture.
• Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the topping is lightly browned. Allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.

CHERYL'S SPINACH CHEESY PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan, and cook the spinach 4 to 6 minutes, until tender.
• Place the cooked pasta in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil. Toss the pasta with the cooked spinach, egg mixture, and bread crumbs.
• Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish, and cover with another 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella. Layer with remaining pasta mixture, and top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the rest of the Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

ZUCCHINI PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute vegetables in oil until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in the bread crumbs, salt and pepper; cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in pasta. Pour into a greased 1-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 10 minutes or until heated through.

CREAMY ZUCCHINI & SPINACH RIGATONI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms and garlic; cook 3 to 4 min. or until zucchini is crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add flour and seasonings; cook and stir 1 min. Stir in broth; cook 2 to 3 min. or until thickened, stirring frequently. Add Neufchatel; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until melted.
• Drain pasta. Add to zucchini mixture along with the spinach, Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
• Bake 10 min. or until mozzarella is melted.

CREAMY ZUCCHINI AND SPINACH PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir onions in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add zucchini and mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 min. or until zucchini is crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add half the spinach; cook 2 to 3 min. or just until wilted. Repeat with remaining spinach. Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta. Add to vegetable mixture in skillet along with the pasta sauce, ricotta, Italian seasoning and 1 cup mozzarella; mix lightly.
• Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until casserole is heated through and mozzarella is melted.

CREAMY ZUCCHINI & SPINACH RIGATONI

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 375ºF.
• COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• MEANWHILE, heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms and garlic; cook and stir 3 to 4 minute or until zucchini is crisp-tender. Add flour and seasonings; cook and stir 1 minute Stir in broth; cook and stir 2 to 3 minute or until thickened. Add Neufchatel; cook and stir 2 to 3 minute or until melted.
• DRAIN pasta; return to pan. Add zucchini mixture, spinach, Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
• BAKE 10 minute or until mozzarella is melted.
• Preparing Perfect Pasta: Follow the package directions to ensure that enough water is used for cooking the pasta. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente (tender but still a little firm to the bite), stirring frequently. To prevent pasta from sticking, add it slowly to plenty of boiling water and stir frequently while cooking. Adding oil to the cooking water is not recommended because some sauces may not cling to pasta coated with oil.
• Serving Suggestion: Serve with fresh fruit and a side salad to round out the meal.
• Nutrition Information Per Serving: 330 calories, 13g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 40mg cholesterol, 450mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate, 3g dietary fiber, 3g sugars, 18g protein, 45%DV vitamin A, 15%DV vitamin C, 35%DV calcium, 15%DV iron.