Quattro Formaggi Agnolotti With Baby Spinach And Sun Dried Tomatoes Food

PASTA AI QUATTRO FORMAGGI (CREAMY FOUR-CHEESE PASTA) RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, saucier, or other medium pot, combine cream with thyme, garlic, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan with a flexible spatula to prevent scorching, then remove from heat and let steep 5 minutes. Remove and discard garlic and thyme.
• Return infused cream to low heat and add Taleggio, whisking constantly until Taleggio is fully melted.
• Add grated Gruyère (or Fontina) and continue to whisk until fully melted and a smooth sauce forms. Whisk in Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Using a spider skimmer, transfer pasta to cheese sauce; alternatively, strain pasta in a colander, making sure to first reserve 1 cup (240ml) pasta-cooking water. Add 1/4 cup (60ml) pasta-cooking water to pasta and sauce and, working over medium-low heat, stir gently until pasta is coated in a creamy glaze. If sauce becomes too thick, add more pasta water, 1 tablespoon (15ml) at a time, to loosen to proper glazing consistency. Season with salt to taste.
• Remove from heat and stir in gorgonzola; it may completely melt into the sauce, but it's fine (arguably even desirable) if some pieces remain mostly intact.
• Serve right away, passing more grated Parmigiano-Reggiano at the table.

QUATTRO FORMAGGI PIZZA

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: Whisk 1 cup warm water (about 105 degrees F) and the sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle the yeast over top. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in olive oil. Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast mixture and stir to make a shaggy dough. Place dough on a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding just enough flour to prevent it from sticking. Form into a ball, place in a large oiled bowl, turning to coat with the oil. Turn seam-side down and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature about 1 hour, 30 minutes, until doubled in size. Position oven rack to top shelf, along with a pizza stone or baking sheet. Preheat to 450 degrees F. Prepare sausage in a large skillet. Remove and drain the fat. Sprinkle working surface and rolling pin with cornmeal to prevent sticking. Knead dough for a few seconds to begin shaping it into a ball. Using rolling pin, roll the dough out to a circle that is approximately 10" in diameter. Finish stretching using your hands. The dough should be thin. Remove baking sheet or pizza stone from the oven and sprinkle it with cornmeal. Carefully place the pizza dough on the stone or baking sheet and quickly sprinkle with Ricotta Cheese. Scatter the Mozzarella and Gorgonzola pieces, along with the sausage, and finally, top with Parmesan Cheese. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh herb, cut and enjoy! *Always cook sausage to internal temperature of 160 degrees F

TORTELLINI WITH BABY SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat a large deep skillet or saucepan over medium/medium high heat.
• Add sun dried tomatoes and saute for about 30 seconds.
• Next, add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for about 45 more seconds, careful not to let the garlic burn.
• Add tomatoes and stir together.
• Let sauce come to a boil, reduce heat to low, then cover and let simmer while pasta water comes to a boil.
• Boil pasta according to package directions (about 6-8 minutes).
• While pasta finishes cooking, add spinach to the sauce.
• I end up using about 1/2 of a 10 oz bag.
• Give spinach leaves a stir and then place lid back on the sauce to let the leaves wilt slightly.
• As pasta finishes cooking, ladle a couple scoops of sauce into serving bowl.
• Drain tortellini, and add to bowl with a couple more ladles of sauce overtop.
• Toss to combine.
• I always have some sauce left over which I keep on the side for dunking in bread.
• Top tortellini with grated cheese and serve!