Zingy Ziti Food

ZESTY CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & ZITI

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to directions and when you only have about 6 minutes left, add the broccoli to the pasta and boil the remaining 6 minute and drain.
• Meanwhile, in a nonstick pan, heat the olive oil and then add the garlic, the chicken, and the spices. Cook until the chicken has cooked through and has browned. Add this to the pasta once it has been drained.
• In the same nonstick pan, over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the flour, mixing well to create a roux. Cook the flour for several minutes.
• Slowly whisk in the milk trying to avoid making any lumps, and increase the temperature to med. high.Continue to stir until the sauce starts to thicken. Add in the lemon juice, cheese and the seasonings, mixing well. Continue to cook until cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened.
• Pour sauce over chicken and ziti mixture, and gently mix well. Serve.

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Boil ziti, following package directions, drain and place in a large bowl.
• Mix all the ricotta cheese and half of the mozzarella with the ziti.
• Spray a 13x9 pan with Pam.
• Cover the bottom half of the pan with about half the sauce.
• Put the ziti mixture on top of sauce.
• Pour remaining sauce on top of ziti.
• Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
• Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted and it is lightly golden.

AUTHENTIC BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• SAUCE.
• Remove the sausage casings and crumble the sausage.
• Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to a pan, and brown the sausage.
• Puree the tomatoes in a blender (not too much).
• Add onions and garlic to now-browned sausage. Cook for a few more minutes until transparent.
• Add your tomato puree to the sausage.
• Add thyme and basil to sauce.
• Add some salt and pepper to taste.
• Add a generous pinch of the pepper flakes.
• Stir this up, heat to near-boil, then let it simmer covered on low for 15 minutes.
• BUILDING THE DISH.
• Boil your ziti pasta to not quite al-dente. Don't overboil, pasta will soften while baking.
• Cut the mozarella, half of it into 1/2 inch cubes, the other half in as thin of slices as you can manage.
• Remove the herb sprigs from the sauce and discard.
• Add the can of tomato paste to your sauce to thicken it up and give it a lively red color and more intense flavor.
• Add the pasta, your sauce, the cubed mozarella and half the parmesan in a baking dish.
• Top with the sliced mozarella and the remainder of the parmesan.
• Bake for about 30 minutes until golden.

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and boil the pasta until al dente (tender but still slightly firm). Drain.
• Toss the cooked pasta with the quick tomato sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan, all of the black pepper and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

ZESTY ZITI BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and transfer to a 3-quart casserole dish.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the zucchini or sweet red pepper, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red-pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
• Combine the egg whites and the ricotta in a medium bowl, stir to mix well, and spoon over the pasta. Top with the vegetable mixture and sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake for 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

SKILLET CHICKEN, BROCCOLI, ZITI, AND ASIAGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.
• Add the chicken pieces in a single layer and cook for 1 minute without stirring.
• Stir the chicken and continue to cook until most, but not all, of the pink color has disappeared, and the chicken is lightly browned around the edges, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Transfer the chicken to a clean bowl and set aside.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat and cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 2 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the ziti, 2 cups of the water, and the broth.
• Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is very thick and syrupy and almost completely absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Add the broccoli and the remaining 3/4 cup water.
• Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Uncover and return the heat to high.
• Stir in the cream, Asiago cheese, and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is cooked and heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve.