Baked Ziti

I got a request for baked Ziti : i thought about it, it is a simple dish but how would i change it up, so i took the challenge and here is what i came up with, enjoy.

Baked Ziti

Ingredients

5 lb of Ziti pasta cooked ali dente
3 LB Ricotta Cheese
2 lb of mozzarella cheese
2 quarts of home made marinara sauce
2 8oz packages of mascarpone cheese
1 lb of Italian sausage, sliced
1 lb of Porcini mushrooms, sliced
2 cups parmesan cheese
6 eggs
6 cloves of garlic. minced
2 shallots, diced
1/4 cup of fresh chop Italian parsley
1/4 cup ribbon sliced basil
2 table spoons fresh thyme, chopped
2 table spoons of unsalted butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

You will need a large deep baking dish, i used a 17 inch by 12 inch by 5 inch pan.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a skillet over medium high heat melt 1 tablespoon of butter, next add the shallots and saute until soft. Remove from heat and add the garlic, and thyme and set aside.

In another skillet over med high heat and the remaining butter and the mushrooms and saute until tender, drain any liquid, place mushrooms in a bowl and set aside. In the same skillet crisp up the sausage, drain fat and set aside.

In a large bowl place the ricotta and mascarpone cheese and the eggs and whisk until combined. Next stir in the basil, the saute shallots mixture and half the parsley.

Now in the large pan layer in the ziti, ricotta cheese mixture, the mushrooms, half of the parmesan cheese and sausage. Stir to combine. Next pour in the marinara sauce and half of the mozzarella and stir to combine. Over the top sprinkle the remaining cheeses and parsley, Cover in foil and bake for one hour. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese starts to brown.

Enjoy Cooking

Very Berry Dessert

Very Berry Dessert

Ingredients

4 pints of fresh blue berries
2 pints of raspberries
2 pints of black berries
4 packages of Italian Lady Fingers
2 8oz packages Mascarpone cheese
1 cup raw sugar or 3/4 cup raw honey
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup raw powdered sugar or honey powder
1 lemon, juiced and zest
1 teaspoon Real Vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

In a large sauce pan add blue berries, raw sugar or Honey and lemon juice and zest and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat a simmer for 5 minutes. Next add the raspberries and black berries and stir to warm about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

In the stand mixer, with the whisk unit attachment, place the Mascarpone cheese and powdered sugar or Powdered Honey and mix to blend. With the mixer on low add the heavy cream, cinnamon and vanilla and blend until smooth. Note: if using the powdered honey you may need to have it run a spin in the spice grinder in order to the powder it bit finer.

You will need a large casserole, i use a 16 inch by 9 1/2 inch by 3 inch deep oval casserole for this dish. Place a single layer of lady fingers on the bottom of the casserole, next spoon berry sauce over lady fingers. Add another layer of lady fingers and sauce and then on more layer with sauce. Next cover the top with the mascarpone mixture, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours. I decorate the top with some whole berries and serve.

Enjoy Cooking