Tasty Pasta Bake

Monday 14 January 2013

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It's always very handy to have a few recipes in your recipe repertoire for easy do ahead meals.   I especially like these types of things for Sundays, because I am usually starving by the time I get home from church.   Sundays is normally the day I make a do ahead casserole that I can just heat up . . . or I use the slow cooker.  It's what works for me!

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This is one of my favourite make ahead casseroles.   It is not Todd's favourite make ahead casserole . . . because, as you know . . . the silly man HATES pasta!  (I think it's a texture thing, but don't quote me on that!)  I LOVE pasta, as you also know . . . and so every once in a while I just have to have some!  Yes, today was torture Todd with pasta day!

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Actually I do  try not to torture him with it very often . . . and usually when I do make pasta, I am sure that I have something in the cupboard I can just heat up for him like a steak and kidney pudding (YUCK!) which he adores.  It's only fair.

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There is this program on Saturday mornings called oddly enough, Saturday Kitchen!  (Took a genius to name that I think!)  They usually have a celebrity guest on board, and they are asked what is their food heaven and food hell.  Then they draw and it's up to the draw whether they will have to experience their food heaven or hell.

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I would hate that myself . . . although I am thinking that pretty much anything would be food heaven in James Martin's presence . . . but I digress.  (Look at those eyes ladies!  Now that's what I call a tasty dish . . . and he is the master of desserts!)

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My point is . . . Pasta is Todd's food hell and my food heaven . . . and steak and kidney pie would be his food heaven and my food hell, coz there would be no way on earth you could EVER tempt me into eating kidney.   Sorry.  I'm squeamish about that.   After learning about them in cooking school, I am never eating a kidney.

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Anyways . . . this casserole is my idea of food heaven.  It's make ahead.  It's easy.  It's pasta. It's cheesy.   It's delicious.   What more could you ask for!  It's like an easy, meatless lasagne . . . without any fuss.

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*Tasty Pasta Bake*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

A delicious pasta bake that you put together the night before and then bake the next day to serve.   The perfect make ahead dish.

16 ounces of uncooked pasta
(1 pound)
1/4 cup of sour cream
8 ounces cottage cheese (1 cup)
4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 cup)
1 small onion, peeled and minced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp black pepper
28 ounces pasta sauce (tomato and basil, Bolognese, whatever you have.   Homemade is best
but jarred works well also)  (2-400g jars)
1 cup of chopped vegetables (peppers, mushrooms,olives etc.)
4 ounces grated cheese (a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella works fine) (1 cup)

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Cook your pasta in lightly salted water, just until al dente.  Drain well, rinse, drain again and then set aside.

Stir together the sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, onion, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt and pepper.  Set aside.

Butter a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish.   Layer in the ingredients as follows.   1/'2 of the cooked pasta.   The cottage cheese mixture.   Any vegetables you are using.  The remainder of the pasta.  Pour over top the pasta sauce.   Sprinkle with the grated cheeses.  Cover tightly and place in the refrigerator overnight.  Remove from the refrigerator 1/2 hour before you want to cook it.

When you are ready to cook it, preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Place the casserole dish into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.  Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.   Delicious!

Note:  the leftovers taste even better and if you wish you can make this in two casseroles and freeze one for a later date.

11 comments

  1. O my heavens that looks decadent... That toasted cheese oozing over the side... Goodness!! I'm with you, kidneys... Bleck. I would probably try it ONCE, just to say I did... Ew. But this pasta looks fantastic!! I share your love of pasta. Oh so much so. Mmmm.... Pasta... :)
    Love, April

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  2. How can anyone not like pasta?? I have a similar problem with my boyfriend - he doesn't like melted cheese, so he'd hate this! I think it looks gorgeous though and just what's needed in this chilly weather! :)

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  3. I live with someone who hates pasta and chicken. She also will eat almost any form of offal. I love the look of this recipe.

    I have to agree. I am not one to rave over celebrities but I do love to see James Martin on the television.

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  4. my gosh this looks amazing, you take the best photos and your food always look magazine perfect.I finally ahve been able to load your page!! I have missed you!

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  5. I also adore pasta and especially a pasta bake. I particularly like the idea of keeping it overnight and just having it ready to pop in the oven as needed - what a terrific idea. I'm going to try this out on the weekend. Luckily my husband loves pasta, which is a bonus. And neither of us eat offal, so that's also a plus. The only food he scoffs that makes me go "Yuk!" is copious amounts of vanilla ice-cream and chocolate, neither of which I care for. He just quips "All the more for me!"

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  6. this looks wonderful and I'd like to make it for dinner tonight. I don't have any cottage cheese but I have everything else (can't get out because of the broken foot) do you think it would work without the cottage cheese??
    Mary x

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  7. Marie,
    This casserole is beautiful! I'm going to pin and save it!

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  8. Perfect for a cold winters day!

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  9. What kind of pasta are you using? Or does it matter? Looks yummy.

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    1. You will want to use a pasta shape that will grab and hold the sauce Karen, like a fusilli or lumache. On this particulare day I used Dischi which were perfect as they are round discs with a curled rim. They "grabbed" the sauce perfectly! xo

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