Rigatoni Surprise Food

BAKED RIGATONI WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the topping: Add the ricotta, basil, and salt to a small bowl. Stir together with a rubber spatula. Set aside.
• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to boil. Season well with salt and cook the rigatoni for 5 minutes. Drain well, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, heat a large braiser or ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and sausage to the pan. Cook, stirring often and breaking apart the meat with the back of a spoon, until beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the broccoli and garlic and cook to marry the flavors, about 3 minutes. Stir in the marinara and 1/4 teaspoon salt until fully combined. Add the pasta to the pan and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Toss well to coat. Add the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce slightly.
• Dollop the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the top. Nestle the ricotta mixture into the pasta and cover with some of the pasta. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

TUNA AND RIGATONI BAKE

Steps:

• Cook Pasta in lightly salted boiling water for 15 minutes until"al dente".
• Drain and keep warm.
• Heat oil in a large pan,add onion and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes til soft.
• Stir in remaining tuna sauce ingredients,and simmer for 15 minutes until thickened stirring occasionly.
• For the cheese sauce melt butter in a pan,add flour and cook for 1 minute,stirring all the time.
• Gradually stir in the milk,bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for a minute stirring all the time.
• Stir in 2 ozs of parmesan.
• and remove from heat.
• Layer 1/3 of the pasta in a 3 pt ovenproof dish (lightly sprayed with non-stick spray.) spoon a 1/3 of the tuna sauce over and then a layer of the cheese sauce.
• Continue layering sauces andpasta,finishing with cheese sauce.
• Sprinkle with the remaiing Parmesan and bake in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes until golden.
• Sprinkle with a little fresh thyme and serve hot.