Farmer Pasta Food

FARMER'S PASTA - GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

Steps:

• Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add the pancetta and saute until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a small bowl.
• Pour off all but 1/4 cup of the pan drippings (if necessary, add more oil to the pan drippings to equal 1/4 cup total).
• Reduce the heat to medium.
• Add 3 teaspoons of garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the milk.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in all the Fontina, mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone cheeses.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the rigatoni and cook until almost al dente, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. (The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.).
• Drain pasta and add directly into the cheese.
• Add the parsley, basil, and pancetta and toss to coat.
• Season the pasta mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared dish.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the bread crumbs and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta mixture.
• Drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil and bake until the sauce bubbles and the bread crumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

QUICK FARMER'S MARKET PASTA

Steps:

• In a large heavy saute pan add the sliced garlic and the clusters of cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the pan over low-medium heat on the stove top and cook slowly until the tomatoes are just about falling apart and their juices have been extracted into the olive oil forming a nice sauce, about 35 to 40 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 2 to 3 clusters of roasted tomatoes for garnish. Discard the vine stems and puree or squash the remaining tomatoes in the pan, with a spoon, so you have nice chunky pieces of tomato in all the delicious tomato juice and olive oil. Stir in the sugar. This will be the sauce for the pasta.
• In a large saute pan heat a 3-count of olive oil and saute the loose pork sausage until brown and caramelized. Remove and set aside on a plate while you cook the zucchini. To the same pan add some more olive oil and saute the zucchini until caramelized around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add the artichokes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the sausage back to the pan and toss in pasta and the tomato sauce. Mix well over high heat to ensure everything is heated through and evenly coated. Transfer to a serving bowl or platter.
• To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan, basil leaves and top with a cluster of roasted cherry tomatoes.

THE FARMER'S FRITTATA (ITALIAN-STYLE OMELET)

Steps:

• Combine zucchini and summer squash in a bowl and sprinkle 2 tablespoons kosher salt over top; toss until everything is evenly coated. Let sit for 15 minutes, tossing occasionally.
• Thoroughly rinse squash with cold water to remove all salt; transfer to a colander and let drain for 15 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 10-inch, oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until browned and almost crisp, about 5 minutes.
• While the bacon is cooking, mix eggs, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne, and green onions together with a fork in a large bowl.
• Raise the heat on the bacon to medium-high; toss in peppers and red onion plus a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until the peppers just start to soften and the onions turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Add drained squash and carefully stir together; cook until squash is just barely tender, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Toss Cheddar cheese into the skillet and pour egg mixture over top. Stir with a spatula (like you were making scrambled eggs) until it starts to thicken up, 30 to 45 seconds. Shake the pan gently to settle the contents and turn off the heat. Push the edges down a bit with the spatula and sprinkle goat cheese over top. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Place under the preheated broiler until the surface is lightly browned and frittata is firm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle with more green onions and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring it onto a serving plate.