Italian Escape Casserole Food

ITALIAN SAUSAGE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lightly grease your 2.5-quart casserole or baking dish, or a 9 x 13 baking pan with extra virgin olive oil.
• Cook your rotini, penne, rigatoni, or ziti pasta per the package instructions, minus about two minutes for an al dente texture. Drain and rinse in cool water to stop the cooking process.
• Transfer the cooked pasta to your prepared baking dish.
• Pour marinara or spaghetti sauce over the cooked pasta layer.
• Cut your Italian sausage links into chunks and press them into the top of the sauce layer.
• Grate mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses then spread over the top of the sausage layer.
• Top with fresh cut basil and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 35-40 minutes. The casserole should be bubbling around the edges and the sausage pieces should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) when done.
• Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Garnish with more cheese, basil, or chopped parsley if desired.

ITALIAN-INSPIRED CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook sausage, beef, onion and green pepper until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add corn and olives. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in noodles. , Pour into two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Top with cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.