Friday, June 8, 2012

BAKED FRIDAY PASTA


 Pasta week has been fun and on Fridays it's fun to create an original pasta dish using your own unique ingredients (aka "leftovers")!
Begin by looking in your pantry to see what pasta you have available.  Really any kind will work---spaghetti, angel hair, linguine, penne, bows, etc.
This is a really fast and fun way to end the week.  Just remember to use fresh tomatoes and fresh herbs whenever possible.  This is also a great time to sneak in vegetables (broccoli, zucchini, spinach, etc.)  Every time you make this dish it will be slightly different based on your meat and vegetable leftovers from the week.   You could even create a family challenge by working together to "create" the Baked Friday Pasta together.    Enjoy!!

Ingredients: Here's what I found from this week to use in my baked Friday pasta:
2 boiled chicken breast s
2 pieces of bacon
tomato chutney (made with tomatoes, onion and red bell pepper).
parmesan cheese
sharp cheese
half a block of cream cheese
chicken broth
Fresh basil and parsley
Penne Pasta

Instructions:
*Boil salted water and then add pasta.  Don't overcook pasta--it should be al dente (the package will advise you on how long to cook the pasta to reach this state).
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Spray pyrex dish with PAM. (I used a 8X8 square pyrex).
*In a mixing bowl combine whatever chopped up meat, vegetables, tomatoes and cheese you will be using  in your baked pasta.  With a slotted spoon, add al dente  pasta to the mix.   Add some pasta water to loosen up mixture a bit.  This starchy water will help bind everything together.  Add whatever seasonings and herbs you wish. 
*Place in prepared dish.
*  Place additional cheese on top if you wish and bake at 350 degrees until hot, bubbly and slightly browned on top.

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