BAKED ZITI is, admittedly, not a very pretty dish. But it’s absolutely delicious, and a kid-pleaser, to boot. (With my picky-eater children, this is a huge thing!)
The most time consuming part about BAKED ZITI is preparing the marinara sauce. This takes about 15 minutes for the normal person, and about 25 minutes for obsessive people – like me – who rather than buy canned chopped tomatoes, buy canned whole and then cut out the stem ends, imperfections, and any skin. THEN I chop them. (I’m not sure the companies do all that – I suspect they just wash them and throw them in a machine.)
However, if you like this BAKED ZITI recipe, next time double, triple, etc. the marinara and freeze in portions for future use. The rest of the recipe is very easy and quick.
I guess this would be a good time to acknowledge that while the preparation is fast, the bake time is 1 hour, plus a 20 minute set time. BUT THIS IS ALL HANDS OFF!!!
BAKED ZITI – makes 5-6 servings (unless you have a teenager)
Marinara:
- 1 T olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed
- 14 oz tomato sauce
- 8 oz canned whole tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 tsp dried or 1½ tsp fresh oregano
- 1/4 cup + 1 T fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Casserole:
- 230g (1/2 lb) uncooked ziti (or other tubular pasta)
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 (112g) cup cream
- 1 egg
- 2¼ oz (3/4 cup) (64g) Parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 1/2 lb (228g) whole milk cottage cheese
- 3½ oz (1 cup) (100g) Mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
If you already have the marinara sauce made, then go straight to the Casserole instructions.
Marinara: In a large skillet or saucepan heat the olive oil over medium flame. Add in the garlic and sauté about 30 seconds – until fragrant. Turn off heat and add in the tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, and oregano. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then lower flame to maintain the simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes to thicken a bit. 
Turn off heat and stir in 1/4 cup basil, sugar, and pepper.
Casserole: Bring 2 quarts of water to a full boil. Add in 1/2 T salt and the ziti. 
Cook for 5 minutes. SET A TIMER! You don’t need to cook it fully right now – it will continue to cook in the oven. Pour pasta into a strainer to drain, but don’t shake it to remove water.
While pasta is cooking, combine cornstarch and cream in a small bowl. 
In another bowl, beat egg with a fork then mix in 1/2 cup (1.5 oz) (44g) Parmesan and cottage cheese. 
Once the pasta is draining, pour the cornstarch-cream mixture into the now-empty pot. Over a low heat, bring to boil.
Immediately turn off flame and stir in the cottage cheese mixture. 
Add in half of the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the marinara. 
Stir in the cooked ziti, breaking up stuck together pasta. 
Pour into an 8″ x 8″ casserole dish (or it’s equivalent). 
Top with remaining marinara sauce, then sprinkle on remaining mozzarella, followed by the rest of the Parmesan (20g). 
Cover with a lid or foil and bake at 350º Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle on 1 T basil. 
Let set 20 minutes before serving.
When I harken back to Christmases past, one thing that stands out is the English Toffee Bars my best friend’s mother made every year. Besides my mom’s fudge, English Toffee Bars were a favorite.
Add the yolk, vanilla, and salt. Beat 1 minute. 
Add the flour and mix on low speed, just until flour is incorporated. 
Place dough on a piece of parchment paper, and pat it out to 11.5″ x 11.5″, trying your best to keep it of even height.
Slide parchment on onto a rimless cookie sheet. Place in preheated 375º F oven. Bake 11-14 minutes, rotating once, until browned. Remove from oven. 
Immediately, top hot dough with chocolate bar pieces and let sit for 2-3 minutes , until chocolate softens.
Spread chocolate. 
Sprinkle with toasted nuts, pressing very lightly so nuts adhere to chocolate.
Cool bar on cookie sheet about 20 minutes so it sets. Slide parchment onto counter. Slice off uncoated edges, then cut slab into squares while still soft (if you wait until they’re hard, they’ll break when cut). Once bars are completely cool, refrigerate to firm up.
Sometimes advice passed on through the ages is wise and true. BUT, sometimes one needs to re-examine it, thus finding it no longer (if ever) viable.
In a saucepan, melt 3 T butter. Sauté shallots over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, just to bloom the garlic. Remove pan from heat. 
In a small bowl, mix together the flour, paprika, salt, cayenne, white pepper, and nutmeg. Blend into the butter mixture, smashing out any lumps – this is your only chance to do so! 
Return pan to heat and cook roux (that’s what this paste is called) for 2 minutes over medium/low heat. (This will get rid of the flour taste.) 
Pour in the milk and cook over medium/low until thickened, stirring constantly. Turn off burner but leave pot in place in order to use residual heat. 
Stir in Gruyère and 1/4 cup Parmesan until melted. 
Remove pot from warm burner and let cool 5 minutes. 
Meanwhile, build a foil cylinder around each mushroom – heavy or regular aluminum foil will work. Cut 4 pieces of foil – 8″ long if using heavy foil, and 12″ long if using regular. 
For the heavy foil, fold in half lengthwise; for the regular, fold in thirds lengthwise. The goal is to make a 4″ high strip that will surround the Portobello. Grease one side of the strips with the remaining butter (You may not need all of it, but don’t be stingy – this will prevent the soufflé from sticking.) Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on the greased strips, lightly patting down to make it adhere to the butter. 
Surround each Portobello snuggly with a foil strip, coated side facing the mushroom. Secure it with a paperclip at the top. 
Place mushrooms on a parchment lined cookie sheet and set aside.
Let cool.
Deep breath! Pour the cheese sauce into the beaten whites. Turn the mixer on low and mix until just combined. 
Pour mixture on top of Portobellos, dividing as equally as you can – don’t get crazy about it, though. 
Bake at 350º F for 25 minutes – don’t open the oven door to check before that time. The soufflé should be golden and jiggly. 
Remove paper clip (take care – it’ll be hot!) and foil collar. Serve immediately.
One of my family’s favorite soups is HOT & SOUR. Not only does it have an appealing kick, but I love that you can eat a lot of it with almost no calories. Yay! When I start my meal with a big bowl, it takes the edge off my hunger so I don’t inhale half a dozen eggrolls.
Cut bamboo shoots in half widthwise, then into slivers lengthwise. 
Press out excess liquid from tofu, then cut into 1/2″ cubes. 
Bring vegetable stock to a boil. Add in mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Simmer for 5 minutes. 
In a small bowl stir together 3 T cornstarch and 3 T water. 
Simmer 5-10 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together the egg, 1/2 tsp cornstarch, and 1 tsp water. Turn off heat. VERY SLOWLY drizzle in the egg in a thin stream, going in all directions. 
Turn the heat on again and whisk gently to break up egg strands. Serve.
What could be better on a chilly evening than sipping a nice mug of MULLED APPLE CIDER?! (You could even add in a dash of an adult beverage, if you like.)
Cover and decrease heat enought to maintain a low simmer. (Make sure you cover the pot while cooking the cider. The first time I made it, I left it uncovered and most of the liquid evaporated.) Cook 30 minutes. Done.
Winter squash comes in many varieties and colors – very tempting to buy as a Fall decoration. Of course, cooking them may seem a bit daunting… what with the potential for slicing off a finger or two.
Remove neck (yikes!), slice into rounds, then cut into 1/2″ cubes. Cut the body (this is getting creepy) in half and scrape out seeds and fibers. (Remember to save the seeds, fibers, and skin for the broth!) Slice into 1/2″ thick pieces, then cut those into 1/2″ cubes.
Measure out 1¾ cup of cubes (put any remaining cubes with the skins and seeds for the broth.) Into a 12″ nonstick skillet heat the olive oil over medium/high until shimmering. Add the 1¾ cup of cubed squash, spreading out into a single layer. 
Cook about 5 minutes without stirring, until bottoms are browned. Continue cooking another 4-5 minutes, stirring now and then, trying not to turn them over – you want only one side browned. Remove to a bowl and set aside. 
Into the now empty skillet put the seeds and skins, cooking over medium heat about 4 minutes to brown. (Beware of popping seeds as they cook.)
Remove to a small saucepan. Add in the vegetable stock, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 10-15 minutes.
Into the empty skillet melt 1½ T butter. Add in the onions, salt, and black pepper. Sauté over medium heat until onions start to brown. 
Add in nutmeg, cinnamon, and garlic. Cook another 30 seconds to bloom the spices. Pour the Arborio into the onions and sauté over medium until edges of rice become translucent. 
Add the wine to the rice and cook uncovered over medium high until it evaporates. 
As the wine is cooking, strain the broth made with seeds. Discard strained solids and set broth aside.
Stir in Parmesan, sage, remaining 1/2 T butter, and lemon juice. Adjust salt and lemon juice, if needed.
I can’t deny it – I’m a huge potato lover. Mashed, French fried, hash browned, scalloped, and baked: I love them all! (It must be a trait inherited from my Irish mother.)
Remove skewer and slice in half, lengthwise, along narrow side of potato so they lay flat.
Carefully, scrap out insides, leaving 1/8″ border to support the skin. (If you scrap a bit too much in a section, just take some of the potato and smash it down to form a patch.) Place potato pulp in a bowl.
With a fork, mash the potato, breaking down lumps – you don’t need to make it as creamy as you would with mashed potatoes…unless, you want. 
Add in the butter and stir until melted. Then add the buttermilk, sour cream, salt, pepper, cheese, and scallions. Mix gently, but thoroughly. 
Divide equally and fill potato skins. At this point, you can cover them and complete preparation later.
Just before serving time, broil potatoes about 4″ from heating element 10-15 minutes, until spotty brown on top. Serve hot.
Every now and then I get an idea for a recipe that I think will be a piece of cake (pun intended!) to develop. It never is.
Pour in the HOT coffee. Immediately cover bowl with a plate to retain heat in order to melt the chocolate. Let sit for 5 minutes to soften, then stir until all chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Into another bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
Line your muffin tins with 18 regular-sized cupcake papers.
Pour egg mixture into cooled melted chocolate and stir. (You don’t want the chocolate to be too hot or it could cook the eggs.)
Add in flour mixture and mix well – this is one instance where you want a little toughness to the cake so it holds up to the caramel. 
Pour 
Bake for 6 minutes (SET A TIMER!!!) in the preheated 350º F oven. Remove from oven. Set a frozen caramel ball on top of each baked cake bit, dead center (do your best).
Then pour batter around and on top of ball, 1/3″ from top of paper. (This is where a spouted measuring cup comes in handy! Use a spoon to catch the drips.) 
Return to oven and bake at 350º F for another 11 minutes. Remove from oven and keep cupcakes in hot muffin tin 10 minutes to set. Remove cupcakes – with papers – to a wire rack to completely cool.
To make ganache frosting, place chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. 
Heat cream until bubbles form along sides – don’t let it boil.
Immediately pour over chips, cover with a plate, and let melt for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. If the chips don’t completely melt, pour mixture into a small saucepan and, over a very low heat, stir until melted. Allow to cool completely so it thickens, stirring now and then. Pipe ganache on cupcakes, or just frost with a knife.
For some reason, Macaroni & Cheese is perceived as a bland, children’s food. (Don’t even get me started on the boxed version!)
Pulse about 7 times to get small pieces.
Pour into bowl and add in 1/2 oz (1/2 cup) Parmesan, 1 tsp salt, and black pepper. (It’s easiest to mix with fingers.) Set aside. 
Into a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a full boil. Add in 1 rounded T salt and the penne. Stir immediately to prevent sticking, then stir every now and then, until al dente. (Don’t overcook – pasta will continue to soften when the cheeses and sauce are added.)
In a saucepan melt the butter over low heat. Turn off heat and mix in the flour, making sure you smoosh any lumps – this is your only chance to remove them. Cook 2 minutes over low heat, stirring continuously, to prevent that flour-y taste. 
Add in the cream and remaining 1 tsp salt. Increase the heat slightly to medium/low and stir until thickened. 
By now, the pasta should be cooked. Drain in colander, but don’t shake strainer. Immediately pour hot pasta over cheeses in bowl. 
Pour hot sauce on top. (Don’t stir yet.) Cover – I use a cookie sheet. Let set for 3 minutes to melt the cheeses. Remove cover and stir everything together. 
Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle on breadcrumbs. 
Bake at 500º F for about 7 minutes, until breadcrumbs are browned. 
Sprinkle on a little chopped parsley, if desired. Can be served immediately.
Cornbread often doesn’t live up to expectations. While it may look buttery-moist with it’s vibrant yellow color, one bite sends you reaching for the water glass. The other side of the coin is the cornbread you get at some restaurants, so full of sugar and fat that’s it’s really just a slice of cake.
Melt the butter and set aside to cool a bit.
Into the workbowl of your food processor (If you don’t own one, put it on your birthday or holiday list, which is becoming longer by the minute!)), add the corn, sour cream, eggs, and hot sauce. Pulse about 6 times to break up corn.
Pour the corn mixture into the cornmeal mixture and gently stir a few times. (The dry mixture will buffer the eggs so they don’t cook when the hot butter is added.) Then add in the butter and complete blending the ingredients just to the point where the flour in incorporated. Don’t over mix – overmixing a quick bread (which this is) will produce a tough bread.
On the stovetop, heat the oil in a 10″ cast iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Turn off heat and pour in batter (you’ll hear sizzling), spreading it out evenly and smoothing top. 
Place in hot oven and bake at 450º F for 18-25 minutes. (Set your timer for 18 minutes and test with a toothpick – when done, it should come out clean. Reset timer and cook longer, if need be.) 
When done, remove from oven and let cornbread set in skillet at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Vegetarian Cooking For Carnivores BLOG 