Just Good, Basic, Comfort Food

 

There is no need for a long explanation here...to me, baked pasta and some yummy Italian bread will always make for great comfort food.

Baked Penne with Italian Sausage

Ingredients:

1 (12 ounce) package dry penne pasta

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 pound mild Italian sausage

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup white wine (or chicken broth)

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add past and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

Heat oil in a large, deep skillet. Place sausage and onion in the skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly browned. Drain excess fat. Pour in wine (or chicken broth), and cook for 1 minute, stirring, to deglaze the pan. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Toss with cooked pasta, and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle top with mozzarella.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Source: Allrecipes.com submitted by SADIEQQ. You can find the recipe here.

Notes: I have nothing to add. This was just good stuff!

Bacon, Herb & Cheese Snack Bread

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour

2 envelopes Fleischmann's rapid rise yeast

2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup olive oil

2 eggs 

8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheese blend, divided

10 sliced cooked bacon, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, undissolved yeast, Italian herb seasoning, salt, and garlic in a large mixer bowl. Heat water and oil until very warm (120 to 130 degrees F.); gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in 1 cup cheese and remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Spread batter on greased 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan, or rimmed baking sheet with at least 1-inch sides. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; top with bacon. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until puffy, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until done. Cover loosely with foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking if cheese topping beging to overbrown. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack. Serve as strips or squares, or slice and use for sandwiches.

Variation: Replace bacon with 1 1/2 ounces thinly sliced salami.

Source: My Mom found this in a group of coupons in a mailer. judging by the ingredients list, I would say it came from King Arthur flour and Fleischmann's yeast.

Notes: Sorry! I forgot to snap a picture of this one! However, it was delicious...and pretty to look at!