Skip to main content

New England Pasta Bake (Rachael Ray)

  • 4 T. butter, divided
  • 1 yellow onion, cut into medium dice
  • 1 stalk celery, cut into medium dice
  • 2 carrots, cut into medium dice
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into medium dice
  • 1-1/2 t. about 6 sprigs, fresh thyme leaves, minced (1/2 t. dried)
  • Three 6.5 ounce cans chopped clams and their juice, divided
  • 1 pound of pasta shells
  • 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. milk
  • 1 c. breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 c. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Preheat broiler.  Place a large pot of salted water over high heat to boil.

Place a large skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter.  Add the onion, celery, and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender but not caramelized, 5-6 minutes.  Add the potatoes, thyme, juice of the clams and 1/2 cup of water to the skillet and bring the liquids up to a bubble.  Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes are tender, 8-10 minutes.

While the veggies are simmering, drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook to al dente according to package directions.  Just before the pasta is ready, reserve a large mug of starchy cooking water.  Drain the pasta and return it to the pan it was cooked in.

While the veggies and pasta are cooking, place a medium pot over medium heat with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.  Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and cook for 1 minute.  Whisk the milk and 1 cup starchy cooking water into the roux and bring up to a bubble.  Add the clams to the sauce, season with salt and pepper, and simmer until thickened, about 1 minute.  Reserve warm.

When everything is ready, toss the cooked veggies and prepared sauce with the cooked pasta and transfer to a large casserole dish.

Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and grated cheese over the surface of the casserole and brown under the broiler.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip

16 oz. cottage cheese 2 heaping Tblsp. Best Foods Mayo 2 heaping Tblsp. sour cream a thin sprinkle of garlic powder over top 1 pkg. ranch dry mix (buttermilk) Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Best if refrigerated for a few hours before serving. Serve with ruffled potato chips.

Shar's Nutritious White Bread

5 lbs (approx) Arrowhead unbleached flour 1 cup buttermilk powder or powdered milk ½ cup potato flour 2 cups high gluten flour 6 tbsp. Saf instant yeast 2 tbsp. sea salt 5 cups warm water (approx. 115 degrees) 2/3 cup canola oil 2/3 cup raw honey 6 eggs In the Bosch Universal with dough hook: 6 cups arrowhead unbleached flour 1 cup buttermilk powder or powdered milk ½ cup potato flour 2 cups high gluten flour 6 tbsp. saf instant yeast 2 tbsp. sea salt Mix the powdered buttermilk with the other dry ingredients to avoid lumps in your dough on speed one for about 1 minute. add: 5 cups warm water (approx. 115 degrees) 2/3 cup canola oil 2/3 cup raw honey 6 eggs Knead on speed one, and continue adding more arrowhead unbleached white flour. It will probably take about 5 pounds of flour to make this batch, possibley more depending on the climate. Add flour until the dough starts pulling away from the side of the bowl but never picks up the bottom. Dough will be sticky. Keep dough very soft if...

Real Hamburgers (Ina Garten)

2 pounds ground chuck 1 pound ground sirloin 3 T. steak sauce 6 extra-large egg yolks 1-1/2 t. kosher salt 3/4 t. black pepper 4 T. cold unsalted butter 12 hamburger buns Carefully mix the meats, steak sauce, egg yolks, salt and pepper with the tines of a fork, but do not mash it.  Lightly form each hamburger and lightly press into a patty shape.  Make an indentation and put a think slice of butter inside each hamburger, making sure the butter is entirely encased in the meat. Heat a grill, broiler or saute pan and cook the hamburger for 3 to 5 minutes on each side until almost done.  Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil.  Allow the hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes and serve immediately on buns.