Cheesy Baked Ziti

CHEESY BAKED ZITI

PREP TIME: 40 MINS

 

COOK TIME: 45 MINS

INGREDIENTS:

RICOTTA MIXTURE + CHEESE:

• 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) ricotta cheese (whole milk, part skim, or homemade)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
• 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)

ZITI + SAUCE:

• 1 1/2 pounds (24 ounces) uncooked ziti noodles
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more to taste, if desired)
• 2 (28-ounces each) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. FOR THE RICOTTA MIXTURE, in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, 2 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper.
3. In another bowl (or bag), toss together the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
4. FOR THE ZITI NOODLES, bring about 6 quarts or so of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the pasta and a tablespoon of salt and cook, stirring to break up any clumps, until the noodles just begin to soften, 5-6 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking water in a bowl; drain the pasta and set aside.
5. FOR THE SAUCE, quickly dry out the now-empty pot (no need to wash), add the olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, and cook over medium heat until fragrant but not browned, 1-2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every now and again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Off the heat, stir in the reserved pasta water and the cooked and drained pasta into the sauce, breaking up clumps of pasta and coating evenly.
7. Transfer half of the pasta to a 9X13-inch baking dish. Dollop large spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the mixture (won’t cover it completely, just dot the top). Spread the remaining pasta over the ricotta.
8. Sprinkle the mozzarella/Parmesan mixture over the top.
9. Place the baking dish on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet (to catch any bubbling over) and bake until golden and bubbly, 25-35 minutes. Let the ziti cool for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

Author: Mindy

Recipe type: Dessert

 

Ingredients

• Bars:
• 4 eggs
• 1⅔ cups granulated sugar1 cup vegetable oil
• 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Icing:
• 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan (I used 9x13).
4. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.
6. To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Sisters Cafe Fresh Peach Pie

1 c. water
1 c. sugar
4 Tb cornstarch
2 Tb lemon juice
¼ c. butter
4-5 sliced peaches

Combine water, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and butter and cook until thickened. Cool. Add peaches and put in pre-cooked pie crust.

Fruit Pizza on a Giant Sugar Cookie

Ingredients

• 1½ cups sugar
• 2¾ cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 14 tablespoons (1¾ sticks) butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs

FOR THE FROSTING:

• 1 8 ounces package of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup (1 cube) butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• assorted fresh fruit cut into slices

Instructions

1. Beat the butter and 1½ cups sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add vanilla and eggs and mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt) and mix until just combined, about 30 seconds. Spoon dough onto and piece of plastic wrap and create a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill the dough.
2. Preheat oven to 350. Roll chilled dough into one big cookie and place on a round baking stone. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool; chill in fridge.
3. Mix frosting ingredients together and spread on chilled cookie.
4. Top with fresh fruit. Chill until ready to serve. Cut into slices and enjoy!

Perfect One Bowl Brownies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

4 eggs

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

1 cup chocolate chips (although I never measure–I just sprinkle them on top)

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl melt butter in microwave, then stir in oil, sugar and cocoa. With a wooden spoon stir in the remainder of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Spread into a 9×13 pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. If your toothpick comes out clean you have cooked them too long! DO NOT OVERCOOK!

IHOP French Toast

2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/8 t salt
1 t vanilla
3 T flour
6 slices of thick sliced bread

First beat eggs, then add remaining ingredients with electric mixer. Dip both sides of bread and place in hot buttered pan. Flip over when browned. Serve with coconut syrup.

Coconut Syrup
7-8 T butter
3/4 buttermilk
1 c sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1 t coconut extract

Place butter, buttermilk and sugar in a pot. Then turn stove on medium and stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil one minute. Remove from heat and add soda and flavoring. It will bubble up; just continue to stir and give it a few minutes for the fix to reduce before serving.