COOKING BROWN RICE IN CROCK POT

Two Cheeses and a jar of Cheesy Ragu Sauce Mac n Cheese

For the Sauce:
1 jar Ragu Double Cheese Sauce
1/2 lbs. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tsp corn starch
1.5 cups Ricotta cheese
2 tbls butter (I use Earth Balance buttery spread though)
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup diced ham

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

1. Toss the Mozzarella cheese in the corn starch until well coated. It will help prevent stringy cheese when melting.
2. In a pot, melt the butter and turn to medium heat. Add the mozzarella, ricotta, and milk. Stir to prevent the bottom from scorching
3. Stir in Ragu Cheese Sauce
4. Throughly heat through, add ham.
5. simmer for 6 minutes, stirring every minute

For Noodles:
1 lb dried elbow noodles
pinch of salt
3 quarts water

1. Boil water, add pinch of salt
2. Add noodles, cook until al dente
3. Strain


In a 13 x 9 baking pan, pour in the noodles followed by the sauce mixture. Stir until cheese sauce is evenly distributed in the pan.

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Make bread crumb topping in the mean while


For Topping:
2 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 tbls butter (or Earth Balance)

1. Melt butter in a pan then toss bread crumbs until evenly coated
2. After noodles and cheese sauce has been baking for 25 minutes, remove foil and evenly distribute bread crumb mixture.
3. Bake another 10-15 minutes, until crumbs are golden brown.
4. Let rest for 5-10 minutes.

Serves 9 hefty portions

Ok, so. I browned ground beef, and drained most of the drippings. Then I added chopped onions and garlic and cooked till slightly browned. I added Marsala wine to cover and simmered, covered, until the meat had absorbed most of the wine. I added more wine and simmered uncovered until the wine was reduced. Then I added my favorite tomato sauce. (Homemade Leftover Marinara Sauce or even Ragu. Whatever you have.) I usually add more basil and oregano too. Simmer over low heat as long as you like. The longer, the tastier.

Preheat oven to 350

Boil water, then add salt. Cook Ziti (Yes, I KNOW this is Penne) about 4 minutes less than the package says. Drain well. Toss the pasta well with the sauce and remove from heat.

In a small bowl, mix 16 ounces whole milk ricotta, 1 egg, 1/3 cup parmesan, salt, pepper, dried basil and parsley.

In large round baking dish, layer half the pasta. Top with the cheese mixture and spread evenly. Top with remaining pasta and pat down evenly. Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more, to caramelize pasta on top. Top with shredded mozarella and put under the broiler for 3-4 minutes to brown and melt cheese.

Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Yum. Good.

<< Arhiva >>