I get some weird-o cravings, and the other night I got a mean one for some cheesy baked pasta and chili. At the same time. So I got a little creative and threw some black beans and kidney beans into my pasta sauce, threw it in the oven and out came a seriously amazing dinner PT and I both inhaled like there was no tomorrow.
The next night all I wanted to do was make that baked pasta with beans again. It was blinding! I couldn’t think of anything else.
‘PT, what are you thinking for dinner tonight?’ I called PT desperate for anything to get my mind off the pasta.
‘You know,’ PT said. ‘I kind of just want that baked pasta we had last night.’
Done! Only the second time I wrote down the recipe for y’all.
Bakes Shells in ‘Meat’ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients (for 2)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
4 oz whole wheat shells
2/3 cups beans – I used half kidney, have black
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 14 oz (or 1/2 a 28 oz can, like I used) tomatoes – diced, stewed, crushed, whatever!
Oregano, crushed black pepper, fennel seeds, or whatever spices you prefer, to taste
Cheese – I used Parmesan but would have loved to use mozzarella – as much or as little as you want
Directions
1. Cook pasta till al dente. Drain and set aside if it is finished cooking before you are ready for it.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in pan or wok. Saute onion till translucent, add garlic and continue to cook on low till fragrant; about three minutes.
Bringing it all to a boil
3. Preheat oven to 400. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, 1/4 cup of water, and seasonings to the onions and garlic. Bring to a boil. Carefully stir in shells to coat.
4. Pour mixture into a 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish or pan and distribute evenly. Grate cheese over top.
Ready to go into the oven!
5. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until cheese is browned and sauce is bubbling.
Seriously. Seriously?! Seriously.
I think I know what PT and I will be eating tonight!
I WOULD say we should eat this for dinner tonight, as it is ridiculously delicious; BUT I just walked to the new French Market downtown and found all the ingredients I needed to make you a very special dinner tonight!
Comment by PT — December 8, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING?!
Comment by allyson — December 8, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Oh sweet mama….that looks and sounds amazing. I am in the middle of a Low GI eating challenge right now but I’ve already printed this for later….
THANKS…love me some cheesy baked pasta!
cheers!
Cindy´s last blog ..Carb Insanity
Comment by Cindy — December 8, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
It’s 11 at night and I’d eat a big plate of that right now. YUM!
Comment by Kristin — December 8, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
yummy! i love shell shaped things – i don’t eat them often enough!
Lynn @ The Actors Diet´s last blog ..Christy – Infomercial
Comment by Lynn @ The Actors Diet — December 10, 2009 @ 2:14 pm