Italian Wedding Casserole Food

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.

ITALIAN WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8 inch pans. Combine the buttermilk, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and almond extract. Beat in the buttermilk mixture alternately with the flour, mixing just until incorporated. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Stir in pineapple, coconut and 1 cup pecans.
• Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake layers to cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• To make the frosting: Cream together the butter, cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until blended. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 cup pecans. If frosting is too stiff to spread, stir in milk a teaspoon at a time until it reaches desired consistency.

ITALIAN WEDDING CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 cup milk. Add baking powder, 3 1/2 cups flour, and salt. Then add warmed, melted shortening and almond flavoring.
• Flour a cookie sheet (no grease) and drop cookie batter from a teaspoon onto sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Cookies will be cake-like. Be sure to bake them on center rack.
• To Make Frosting: Mix together confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon almond flavoring, water and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Stir and frost cooled cookies.

ITALIAN WEDDING PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a jelly roll pan or line with parchment.
• In a medium bowl, use hands to mix chicken, bread crumbs, parsley, pepper, salt, garlic, egg, and 1/4 C of the cheese until blended. Shape into about 36 1-inch meatballs. Place on pan and bake about 18 minutes or until done. Leave oven on for end of recipe.
• Meanwhile, heat large pot of water to boiling. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes less than package directs. Drain pasta and return it to the pot.
• Whisk cornstarch into milk. Add milk mixture and broth to pasta in pot. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute to thicken sauce slightly.
• Remove from heat and stir in spinach, 1/2 C grated Romano, and some freshly ground pepper. Once cheese is melted and spinach is well wilted, gently stir in meatballs.
• Transfer pasta to 3-quart glass, stoneware, or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 C grated Romano. Bake 20 minutes or until hot in the center and turning golden brown.

EASY ITALIAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Brown ground beef w garlic powder, basil, sea salt & pepper, drain.
• Add both jars of spaghetti sauce to drained meat.
• While browning meat, prepare penne according to package directions, drain.
• In 9x13 baking dish, layer ingredients: meat/sauce, cheese, pasta, cheese, meat/sauce cheese and so forth, ending w cheese (roughly 3 layers of each).
• Bake uncovered until bubbly and cheese is melted.
• *I usually serve with garlic bread and green beans.

ITALIAN WEDDING COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
• Cream butter or margarine in a bowl, gradually add confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
• Add almonds and vanilla.
• Blend in flour gradually and mix well.
• Shape into balls (or crescents) using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and bake for 15-20 minutes. Do not brown.
• Cool slightly, then roll in the extra confectioners' sugar.