Ricotta And Pesto Meatloaf Food

PESTO MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Place pesto ingredients in the order listed in a food processor; cover and process on low speed until a paste forms. , In a large bowl, combine the first six meat loaf ingredients; add pesto. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Press into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. , Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°, draining off fat if necessary. Let stand in pan for 10 minutes before slicing.

ONE-POT LEMON RICOTTA SPAGHETTONI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot (an oval Dutch oven or round braiser works well here, but any large pot will do) over medium-high heat. Add the scallion whites, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to caramelize, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the oregano, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic is softened and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the lemon juice, 5 1/2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the pot, scraping up any brown bits that may have formed on the bottom. Put the spaghettoni in the pot and spread it out as much as you can. Bring the water to a boil and cook, stirring frequently to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot, until the pasta is al dente, the mixture looks creamy and starchy and almost all of the water is evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan, ricotta and lemon zest until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is very creamy, about 1 minute. Divide the pasta into 4 bowls and garnish each with scallion greens and a few more cracks of black pepper.

RICOTTA AND PESTO MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Knead first 3 ingredients together and then mix in egg.
• Press into greased loaf pan.
• Spoon on several tablespoons of tomato sauce on top of meatloaf.
• Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA CHEESE ROLLED MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Spray an 8x4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• To make meatloaf: In a bowl, mix all meatloaf ingredients. On a 12-inch square piece of waxed paper, pat out mixture into an 8-inch square.
• To make filling: In a nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray, cook onions over medium heat for 5 minutes until lightly browned. Stir in spinach and garlic; cook for 2 minutes. Turn off heat; add cheeses, stirring until combined. Spread over meatloaf. Using the waxed paper as a guide, roll up the meatloaf; carefully place in loaf pan seam side down. Spread barbecue sauce over top; sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before carefully inverting onto a serving platter. Slice.

PASTA WITH RICOTTA PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor mince basil, garlic and parsley. Add oil through food tube and process for 10 seconds or until thick.
• Add ricotta cheese and process using on/off turns until blended.
• Pour pasta in serving dish and pour pesto over and then top with tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Serve with grated cheese.

RICOTTA-STUFFED MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, ground beef, TWO of the eggs, the breadcrumbs, garlic, oregano and tomato paste together.
• The best way to do this is with your hands, so if the meats are brought almost to room temp, it will be easier and not quite such a shock to tender fingers. Make sure all the ingredients are mixed together evenly; set aside.
• In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley and remaining egg. If the mix seems a little runny, add a little extra Parmesan. Set aside.
• In a large roasting pan, place one half of the meat mixture and form into a rectangle, with the center a little lower than the sides.
• Spoon all of the ricotta mixture in the center of the meat loaf, leaving at least one inch all the way around.
• Carefully place the rest of the meatloaf mix around and over the top of the ricotta. The easiest way to do this so that the ricotta doesn't "escape" is to start from the sides and the ends and work inward. Smooth and shape the loaf gently and top with mozzarella cheese. An alternate to shredded cheese is to lay thin slices in a decorative pattern down the center.
• Bake uncovered for 60-75 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees.
• Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting into individual servings.
• Delicious with oven-roasted potatoes and a tomato-basil salad. Buon Appetito!