Sheila Hunter of Severna Park, Md., was hoping someone would have the recipe for a one-dish baked pasta entree that does not require cooking the pasta first. She said the recipe was printed on the label of a pasta sauce (she doesn’t recall which one) back in the 1990s. Hunter hasn’t been able to find the pasta sauce in stores for a long time and did not write down the recipe because she always just followed the directions on the jar. She said the dish was easy and made a tasty hot main dish that could feed a family of five.
Brenda Hanson of Oella, Md., sent in a recipe for a no-boil pasta bake that she said used to be on the label of jar of pasta sauce sold by Campbell’s. She thought it could very likely be the one Hunter was in search of. Hanson said that Cambell’s discontinued the sauce some years ago, but she held onto the recipe and has found that any pasta sauce can be substituted and just about any pasta can be used. If you don’t mind cleaning another pan, I would recommend adding about a pound of cooked sausage or ground beef, or even sauteed mushrooms.
Recently, my daughter, who has moved into her own apartment, has grown interested in cooking and asked me to send her some quick, easy and economical recipes that she can make with minimal time and mess. I came up with several for her and will certainly be sharing this one. Even an inexperienced cook should have no problem with this recipe — it’s virtually foolproof. Add a green salad and some crusty bread, and you’ll have a hearty and satisfying dinner in next to no time.
NO-BOIL PASTA BAKE
Makes: 4 to 6 servings
1 16-oz. box of pasta (ziti, penne or any other medium-sized, shaped pasta)
1 24-oz. jar of tomato sauce
24 oz. water
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Freshly ground pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine uncooked pasta, tomato sauce, water and seasonings in a mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake 30 minutes. Uncover and stir well.
Top with cheeses. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and pasta is fork-tender.
REQUESTS
Marian Mullauer of Cockeysville, Md., is in search of the recipe for the ring-shaped crumb cake from the old Silber’s Bakery in Baltimore.
Nell Evans from Aberdeen, Md., says he is a big fan of the onion soup that is served at Outback Steakhouse. He was told the restaurant no longer was going to be making it, and he was hoping someone would be able to give him a good recipe so he can make it for himself.
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