November 24, 2014

(riga)tony! (riga)toni! (riga)toné!

No matter what form it takes, the combination of rich, meaty tomato sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, and ooey-gooey cheese just delivers comfort.


It can be plain ol' pasta and sauce (with or without meatballs), lasagna, or some other amalgamation entirely, but there's just something about that trio that warms the soul.

We've all been inundated with awesome and special and fancy and decadent recipes in preparation for our Thanksgiving feasts (I've been particularly surprised and impressed by both the quality and quantity this year), but we mustn't forget that we have to eat in the days before Thursday too. Baked pasta is an easy and comforting dinner that you can throw together while the rest of your brain is preoccupied with turkey, Brussels sprouts, and pecan pie.


Keep your energy up, folks--you're on the home stretch.

Baked Spaghetti Ziti Rigatoni
Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
  • One batch of spaghetti sauce
  • One box rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to garnish
Directions:
Make the sauce as directed.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 4-quart casserole dish with cooking spray, then spread a little sauce on the bottom.
Dump about a third of the noodles into the dish and drop spoonfuls of cottage cheese over the noodles. Dump about a third of the sauce on top of that.
Repeat the noodle-cottage cheese-sauce layering two more times, then cover the top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling.
You can remove the foil for the last few minutes to brown the cheese and make it extra tasty.
Let the dish sit for 10 minutes or so before serving.

19 comments:

  1. scrumptious and comforting! I love those pasta.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. This is a great idea for the day before Thanksgiving!

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  3. This is classic and delicious comfort food!

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  4. Pasta is a great meal for any holiday eve. I make it for Christmas Eve because it's so easy during the craziness .... And because my kids are too excited to eat anything else.

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  5. Fabulous, Grace. The more cheese the better!!
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. I love pasta on the weekend after Thanksgiving, when I'm finally tired of turkey. This looks yummy! :)

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  7. Mmmmm... I am all for life outside of turkey and some variety before the leftovers begin! This sounds perfect, and I know husband would be thrilled with this.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  8. All that cheesy pasta goodness! I love it.

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  9. That looks very cheesy and very satisfying, I was fretting about what to feed my houseguests arriving tonight, this looks delicious and easy and did I say cheesy?

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  10. Ooey gooey cheese gets me every time! This is a great meal for fall and winter.

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  11. Comforting ans simple meal, Grace!Happy Thanksgiving!

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  12. Yeah, I think I'll be making this for tea tomorrow.

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  13. Happy Holidays! This is so rich and tasty :D I am drooling a little :P

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving dear foodie friend!
    Thank you for all your sweet comments, love each one.

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  15. Baked pastas are such a great dinnertime solution.
    Happy thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  16. I may need a kids dish for an upcoming event. This would be perfect!

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  17. Baked pasta is total comfort. Noodles, sauce and cheese melt together as one. So good you just can't stop eating it. ;)

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  18. I love when you talk pasta... You never fail to make me hungry for it's ooey gooey cheesy goodness!

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