Baked Pasta

I love pasta. I think I would die if I couldn't eat it. So don't even ask me to give it up. I know you're all conspiring to do it, but don't. Just stop here.

Here is a recipe that I came across in Parenting magazine. It's delicious and colorful. But you MUST use fresh mozzarella. MUST. Not the stuff you get over by the Kraft cheeses. If you use Kraft, you're in trouble. Big trouble. Go over to the cool, exotic cheese section and find fresh mozzarella. It's the stuff that melts under your knife. It's awesome.

Here's the recipe.

Baked Pasta With Summer Veggies
Cooking spray
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced (or substitute summer squash, carrots, or eggplant)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb ziti or penne pasta
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese (fat free is fine also)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, plus 1/2 cup (I buy the fresh stuff)
pinch of nutmeg
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped (I've used fresh and dried, just use less if you substitute the dry)
1/2 lb FRESH mozzarella
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 425. Lightly coat a large, shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Place a large pot of water over medium-high heat.Toss onion, garlic, red pepper, and zucchini in a large bowl with olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste. Place vegetables on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.

While vegetables are roasting, add pasta to the water and boil about 2 minutes short of package directions (it should still be slightly firm). Drain.

In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, 1/4 cup parmesan, and the nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Gently toss pasta with the ricotta mixture, vegetables, tomatoes, oregano, and mozzarella. Pour mixture into the baking dish.Sprinkle top with the remaining parmesan and break crumbs. Bake, uncovered, until lightly browned and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

P.S. This is also very good unbaked. It makes a delicious cold salad that you can take to work and enjoy when you take a break from the craziness that is our world. :)