Monday, January 17, 2011

Pasta e Formaggio AKA Italian Mac and Cheese














Belle and Liv make Pasta e Formaggio, Mac and Cheese with an Italian twist.


Liv and Belle learned to cook Italian food from their dad, restaurant critic and food aficionado Vince Gerasole. "We love everything Italian," says Liv. "You might say marinara is in our blood," quips Belle.

So we rounded up all the flavors found in a
Pizza Margherita and adapted them for 30 Day 30 Way Mac and Cheese.


Pasta e Fromaggio - Italian Mac and Cheese

(Serves 6-8)


Ingredients:


1 package (16 ounces) farfalle pasta, cooked and drained

2 cups of heavy cream

1/3 cup all purpose flour

4 tablespoons butter


1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Wisconsin Mozzarella Cheese

1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 medium onion, grated


1/2 cup grated Wisconsin Parmesan Cheese



Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to directions on the box. While the pasta is boiling prepare your mise en place.








Chop the onion.















Seed and dice the tomatoes. Set them aside.



When the pasta is cooked, drain it and rinse with cold water. Set aside.












Start the white sauce. Pour the cream into a one-quart saucepan. Simmer over low heat.

















Whisk in the flour until it disappears.






















Add the butter and stir, until melted.















Add the Mozzarella.















Keep stirring so the cheese sauce thickens but doesn't burn. It will get a wonderful, stretchy consistency.









Whisk in the spices.














Put the pasta into a large bowl. Add the onions and pour in cheese sauce. Mix well.























Now add the tomatoes and onions. Fold in gently.















Pour the pasta mix into a buttered casserole dish. Use a spatula to pat the pasta into the casserole.















Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top and pop into the oven for 30 minutes or until the top starts to get golden brown patches.







Remove from oven and serve with a green salad.
























Our whole family loves this Italian version of Mac and Cheese. Find dozens of other yummy macaroni and cheese recipes at the 30 Days 30 Ways Mac and Cheese.


Support Wisconsin's farm families by buying Wisconsin cheese.