Our family’s days, like so many others are busy, hectic and well, full of chaos. Each day is full of activities, appointments and errands – yet I always make dinnertime our time to connect. Barilla has launched an important “Share The Table” program, aimed to help bring everyone to the dinner table and share their day. At the Barilla website you find valuable tips on how you can bond at the dinner table, discuss the day and learn more about one another. Barilla has even started their “Pasta Friday Sweepstakes”, and every week there is a new chance to win pasta and pasta sauce. You’ll also have even more chances to win this summer, with Barilla’s Mealtime Moments Contest, where you can share your mealtime story for a chance to win one month’s worth of groceries for your family! There’s a new winner every week too.
We are definitely a pa
sta household, it’s a guaranteed hit with everyone. And, as a busy Mom, I like that pasta is quick and easy to make, and there are a ton of options in type and sauce – so there’s never boredom. Thanks to Mom central, I received a gift set from Barilla that included various pastas, wooden spoons, coupons and a pasta holder. Also included were recipes from Chef Mario Batali, which can also be found on the website.
The first recipe I tried was the Ziti alla Pastora:
Ingredients
- 1 Box ~ Barilla Ziti
- 1/2 lb ~ Pork Sausage, Crumbled
- 1/4 Cup ~ Water
- 2 tbsp ~ Salt
- 1/2 lb~ Fresh Ricotta Cheese
- 1 tbsp ~ Red Chili Pepper Flakes
- To taste ~ Black Pepper, Freshly Ground
- 1/4 Cup ~ Fresh Italian Parsley, Chopped
- 1/2 Cup ~ Romano Cheese, Freshly Grated
PLACE the crumbled sausage in a skillet, add the water, cover and cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes. Remove the lid and cook for an additional 15 minutes, until the water evaporates and the sausage is browned.
BRING 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
COOK the Ziti according to the package directions until al dente.
Meanwhile, PLACE the ricotta in a large warmed bowl and mix in the chili flakes, salt and pepper to taste.
DRAIN the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
ADD the Ziti to the skillet with the cooked sausage mixture and place over medium heat. Toss to mix well and then transfer the whole mixture into the bowl with the ricotta. Add some of the pasta cooking water if necessary to thin the mixture.
ADD the parsley and season again with salt and pepper if necessary.
TOP with grated Romano cheese.
The Ziti alla Pastore recipe has simple ingredients, and includes pork {and I always try to mix my pasta with some protein}. I also chose this recipe since it doesn’t have a tomato-based sauce, as the Twins have a sensitivity to tomatoes. Again, it was an easy dinner to prepare and the whole family loved it.
**You can help donate a $1 to the Meals On Wheels Asscociation, by visiting www.sharethetable.com and become a fan of Meaningful Meals.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Barilla and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Oooh, that looks so good! We love pasta and Barilla at our house too. I’ll have to get the ingredients for this and try it this week. Thanks for sharing!