Ugly Pasta Salad Food

UGLY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim away the bruised, cracked or moldy parts of the tomatoes and discard. Roughly chop the tomatoes, reserving their juices, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic and onion, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with about half of their juices (discard the rest), thyme and basil leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and add pepper to taste. Serve immediately or store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

UGLY SWEATER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. In small bowl, place 1 1/4 cups of the batter; stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the green food color. In another small bowl, place 1 1/4 cups of the batter; stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the red food color. Pour remaining cake batter in bottom of pan. Drop tablespoonfuls of each colored batter in random pattern over top; pull table knife through batter to make swirls.
• Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Place cooling rack upside down over cake. Turn upside down carefully so cake is on rack, and remove pan. Turn upside down onto another rack, and flip cake right side up. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, place 1 1/2 cups of the frosting; tint with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons green food color. In small bowl, place 1/3 cup of the frosting; tint with remaining 1/2 teaspoon red food color. Spoon into small resealable freezer plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off small corner of bag; set aside. Spoon 2/3 cup untinted frosting into another small resealable freezer plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off small corner of bag; set aside.
• Place cake, top side up, on serving platter. Spread green frosting on top and sides of cake. Using untinted frosting, pipe an upside-down triangle for the V-neck of the sweater in center of cake. Pipe 2 thick lines of untinted frosting lengthwise in center of cake. Pipe 2 red lines horizontally on either side of center line.
• Using photo as a guide, decorate as directed below: Buttons: Place 4 peppermint candies on center line for buttons. String of Lights: Pipe a line using cookie icing, place 2 of each color (blue, red, orange and yellow) chocolate candies on line. Candy Canes: Place 2 miniature candy canes crossed in center into frosting. Gumdrop Flowers: For each flower, place 6 halved pieces in a circle with 1 yellow chocolate candy placed in center. Santa Claus: Pipe a circle of untinted frosting for face, beard and brim of hat. Using red frosting, pipe a triangle for hat, and top with a small dab of untinted frosting for pom pom. Place 2 candy eyes in center of circle. Add a red cinnamon candy for a nose. Christmas Tree: Place 14 green chocolate candies to make a triangle, place 1 yellow chocolate candy on top of triangle for star, place 2 brown chocolate candies for trunk. Reindeer: Place Peanut Butter Cup top side down into frosting. Squeeze small amount of untinted frosting to attach 2 candy eyes and milk chocolate for nose, place halved pretzel for antlers.
• Cut cake in 4 rows by 3 rows. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

SPAGHETTI OLIO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Melt 1/4 cup of the butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes; remove from heat. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet with the garlic. In a bowl, combine butter with noodles; mix well. Add pepper if you would like.

EASY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Measure oil, vinegar, water, honey, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, garlic salt, parsley, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until well-blended and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if desired.
• Cook pasta in well-salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the pimentos, green and black diced olives, remaining Parmesan, and about 2/3 of the dressing. Gently mix all of the ingredients with a large spoon until well combined. Refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to blend. Just before serving, shake and then stir in the remainder of the dressing and garnish with additional Parmesan, if desired.

UGLIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 8 muffin cups.
• In a large skillet or frying pan, cook ground chuck with onion and garlic powder until evenly brown; drain off the grease. Stir in the barbeque sauce and simmer for another 3 minutes.
• Roll out each biscuit on a floured surface so that each biscuit is 6 inches across. Put the biscuit in the muffin tin and fold up sides to create a cup shape. Fill each biscuit fill almost to the top with the meat mixture; top with cheddar cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until biscuits are baked, cheese is melted and tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

APPLE UGLY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Make a well in the center, and pour in the oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Fold in the raisins and apples. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, until firm and lightly browned.

UGLY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, thyme, and oregano in a large bowl, whisking to combine.
• Add chickpeas, hominy and mozzarella cubes and stir to combine.
• Cover and refrigerate for as long as you can to let the flavors combine (or let it sit out just while the pasta cooks-- it will still tasty).
• Cook the pasta shells according to package directions.
• Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Add pasta to the marinated ingredients, stirring to combine.
• Eat hot, warm, room temperature, or cold (the salad makes great leftovers), sprinkling each serving with the optional Parmesan cheese separately.
• Note: As you can imagine, this recipe could have many, many different vegetables added to it and many different cheeses would make tasty additions.
• I sometimes add olives, grape tomatoes, scallions, etc.

UGLY DIP

Steps:

• Stir the cream cheese, mayonnaise, diced tomatoes, corn, and green onion together in a bowl. Serve immediately or chill.

GARBANZO BEAN SALAD WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Drain one can of garbanzo beans. Chop all other vegetables and add to beans.
• Mix dressing ingredients together; toss with salad.
• Divide salad onto 4 plates; top each plate with 1/2 oz. crumbled feta to serve.
• If desired, you may also add a few Kalamata olives on top of each plate.