Vermont Christmas Pasta 2008 Food

CHRISTMAS PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a deep pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and brown to render the fat. Transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. To the pan add the oil, and the meats and brown and crumble them for 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, and pancetta bits.
• Chop carrot, celery, and onions near the stove and add to the pot as you work. Cook vegetables with meat 5 minutes and add wine. Cook for 1 minute; add stock and tomatoes to the pot.
• Stir in parsley, allspice, or cinnamon and season sauce with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring sauce to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and cook 10 to 15 minutes, minimum, before serving. Reheated sauce only improves.
• Toss pasta (cook off only as much pasta as you need at the time: half a pound for every 3 people) with a couple of ladles of sauce to coat, then top bowl with extra sauce. Top pasta with lots of cheese and pass bread at the table.

CHRISTMAS PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a deep pot over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, bay, and pancetta bits and brown for 1 minute. Add meats and brown and crumble them for 5 minutes.
• Chop carrot, celery, and onions near the stove and add to the pot as you work. Cook vegetables with meat 5 minutes and add wine. Cook for 1 minute; add stock and tomatoes to the pot.
• Stir in parsley, allspice, or cinnamon and season sauce with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring sauce to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and cook 10 to 15 minutes minimum before serving. Reheated sauce only improves.
• Toss pasta (cook off only as much pasta as you need at the time: half a pound for every 3 people) with a couple of ladles of sauce to coat, then top bowl with extra sauce. Top pasta with lots of cheese and pass bread at the table.

VERMONT CHRISTMAS PASTA - 2008

Steps:

• Remove the casings from the Italian sausage. In a large skillet (non stick) cook the Italian sausage and the ground beef. Break up the meat as it cooks, drain fat. In a very large casserole dish combine the cooked penne and the cooked meat. Using the same skillet, saute the bell pepper, onion, mushrooms and garlic in the olive oil. Add the red pepper flakes.
• Add the sauteed vegetables to the casserole dish, mix well.
• Sprinkle the Italian blend cheese over the top, cut the fresh mozzarella into chunks and evenly distribute in the casserole. Add either fresh or dried basil. Sir. Add both jars of spaghetti sauce - (use a good top quality brand).
• Mix well. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, or until bubbly hot.