Painterspasta Recipes

Steps:

• Heat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan. Add sausage meat. Crumble sausage meat as it browns. Add chopped garlic to the pan. When all of the crumbles have browned evenly, deglaze the pan drippings using chicken or vegetable broth. Stir in crushed tomatoes and bring the sauce up to a bubble, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir cream into your sauce, this will blush the color and cut the acidity of the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir peas and basil into your sauce to combine. Toss hot drained penne rigate in pan with the sauce, then transfer pasta to serving bowl.

Steps:

• Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and saute until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a small bowl. Pour off all but 1/4 cup of the pan drippings (if necessary, add more oil to the pan drippings to equal 1/4 cup total). Reduce the heat to medium. Add 3 teaspoons of garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in all the Fontina, mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone cheeses.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until almost al dente, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. (The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.) Drain pasta and add directly into the cheese. Add the parsley, basil, and pancetta and toss to coat. Season the pasta mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared dish.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. Add the bread crumbs and toss to coat. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta mixture. Drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil and bake until the sauce bubbles and the bread crumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Blanch sun-dried tomatoes by dropping them into a small pot of boiling water; immediately remove pot from heat and allow to soak until soft, about 10 minutes; Drain and set aside to cool.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
• Drizzle in a little olive oil, enough to coat bottom of pan plus a little extra.
• Add minced garlic and most of the chopped green onions (reserve some onions for garnish later); sauté until lightly browned.
• Slice the cooled tomatoes into strips, add to skillet along with the roasted red pepper strips.
• Squeeze the lemon juice into the pan to add moisture and continue to sauté.
• Sprinkle in a little garlic powder, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, and about 1 Tbsp or some of cheese (grate a layer of cheese "snow" over the surface).
• Sauté until peppers are heated through, sampling sauce and reseasoning to your tastes, adding as much garlic powder, cheese, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes as you prefer.
• Remove pepper mixture from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside in a covered bowl, leaving any remaining oil in the pan.
• Add about 3 more Tbsp olive oil and heat for about 1 minute, and then add the drained pasta and toss in the oil to coat.
• Squirt a bit more lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and grate more cheese over the pasta, toss.
• Add some of the pepper mixture to the pasta (maybe 1/2 cup or so) and toss to coat to the pasta, tossing to coat well.
• Add a ladleful or so of reserved pasta cooking water and toss to coat--it should not be very dry, but it should not be very wet either.
• Portion out some pasta onto serving plates and top with a scoop of the pepper mixture.
• Garnish with reserved green onions, a grating of cheese, fresh parsley.