hellish week reprieve, italian style

March 22, 2009

hellish week reprieve, italian style

So if I thought that unlucky spell of mushroom soup and tickets was bad, I was wr-ha-ong. Dead wrong. This last week has brought bad news from all sides and, in combination with hectic deadlines at work and moving, has left my head still spinning. I yi yi, is all I can say.

We started our move into a new, spacious, beautiful apartment over the last week, a project so exciting that I packed our last place early and was counting down the hours. Moving is always stressful but I'm one of those who loves change and sincerely looks forward to new beginnings. Plus, I imagined moving with the beau as nothing but fun—unpacking boxes of our favorite things while drinking cold beer and high-fiving happily. Then, my bubble was burst. About two days after signing the lease and getting our key, we found out that my boyfriend's firm might be transferring him to London for a three-month assignment. Okay, so three months is not that long and it's not like I'm sending him off to Iraq but...nooo! What about our new place? What about our 10K? What about me?

Things are still up in the air and we're waiting to hear but, on top of that, my family found out that my 74-year old nana has some very serious medical problems that require emergency surgery and a long recovery. It doesn't feel right to disclose her personal information here so I'll skip the details and just say let's keep our fingers crossed. I'm hoping I'll be able to spend more time with her while she's staying with my family in the Bay Area. Lots of baked goodies and scary movies coming right up, Nana!

Following the one-after-another smackdown on my life this week, it was nice to have a low-key night at home in a semi-assembled new place with some classic italian pasta and red wine. This pasta bake recipe was introduced by a friend a couple weeks ago and has left me enamored ever since. It's suppeerr easy and so, so good. It also helps that the beau loves pasta bakes, not just pasta but baked pasta, and even makes me cook it longer than necessary so it's extra crispy and chewy on top. [Swoon.] I landed such a winner.

I go crazy with the cheese on top as well but sprinkle as you see fit. This is also a great dish to make in two medium pans instead of one large, to bake one and freeze the second for later. I personally always make a big one, even if it's just the two of us, to bring in to work for lunch all week. Maybe it'll help start this week off on a good note. Please god.

Spinach and Sausage Pasta Bake

Adapted from Martha Stewart

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

4 gloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup vodka

1 can (28 oz.) whole tomatoes with juice

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound rigatoni

10 oz. baby spinach

12 oz. smoked chicken sausage, halved length-wise and sliced 1/4-inch thick (can also use turkey sausage)

6 oz. fontina cheese, 4 oz. cut into 1/2-inch cubes and 2 oz. coarsely grated (can also use mozzarella)

1/4-1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic. Remove from heat; add vodka. Return to heat; cook until almost evaporated, 1 minute.

2. Stir in tomatoes and oregano; cook until tomatoes are falling apart, 10-15 minutes. Add cream; cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in the boiling water until al dente. Add spinach, and cook just until wilted. Drain, and return contents to pot.

4. Add tomato sauce, sausage, and cubed fontina to pot; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into one large baking dish. Top with grated fontina and Parmesan. Bake until browned and edges are crisp, 20-30 minutes.

Mar 22, 2009 6:00:41 PM | Food

13 Comments

this is just the pick-me-up i'm looking for. i think there's some sort of cosmic, universal smack down happening right now, and my gut tells me that the only cure is baked pasta. thank you, deelish dish. you're my hero.

Posted by: katch | March 23, 2009 at 10:38 AM

Sorry you're having such a bad week. Something must be going around because I had a hard time last week too and so did a lot of people I know. Maybe the planets aren't aligned or something?

If anything could help, I am sure it's this delicious-looking pasta.

Posted by: Lisa (dinner party) | March 23, 2009 at 12:22 PM

This is just the kind of meal you need when things are quite on the up and up. Makes you feel warm and comforted, and a couple of bites of that is enough.

Posted by: The Duo Dishes | March 23, 2009 at 02:09 PM

mmmm... I want that!

Posted by: Ash | March 23, 2009 at 04:04 PM

Sorry to hear you're having such a stressful week. =(

This is the perfect meal to make everything better. Warm, cheesy and comforting.

Posted by: lisa from dandysugar | March 24, 2009 at 08:06 AM

Fabulous comfort food.

Moving in with sig. other is NEVER easy. Why do men own so many teeshirts?

Take care. Thanks for visiting Pithy and Cleaver, too! Your site is lovely.

Posted by: maggie (p&c) | March 25, 2009 at 01:24 PM

Well, the pasta would solve the woes for sure. This looks amazing...it would cure my problems.

Posted by: noble pig | March 25, 2009 at 02:49 PM

Recently I've had a so stressful week also and moving is hard - always-!
The bright and colorful pictures are amazing-tastely just in time for my dinner right now :)

Posted by: Gera @ SweetsFoods | March 25, 2009 at 04:49 PM