Baked Pasta Al Cavolfiore

Ingredients Cheese sauce: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1 quart milk, warm 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tbsp dijon or other fancy mustard 1 tsp salt or more to taste 1 tsp black pepper or more to taste 2 cups shredded parmesan cheese (the good stuff NOT the powder) Vegetables and Pasta: 2 tbsp olive oil 2 cups chopped onions 5 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp white wine 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets 1 tsp salt or more to taste 3 cups chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup fresh basil (or more if you have it) 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 pound chunky pasta (penne is the easy choice) 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Instructions Cheese sauce: melt butter in a heavy saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for a couple minutes. Stir in warmed milk, whisking constantly for some time until sauce thickens. Stir in rest of the sauce ingredients and remove from heat. Set aside. Cook pasta according to package ingredients. Set aside, after draining in pot. Keep it in the pot; that will be used to mix things at the end. In a large pot on medium heat, add onions, garlic and cook covered, stirring often, until the onions are translucent. Add wine, cauliflower, and salt, cover and cook, stirring often, until cauliflower is tender. Stir in tomatoes, basil, and lemon juice and remove from heat. Preheat oven to 375 F. Oil a 13x9x2 in. pan (or deeper pan). In large pasta pot, combine everything except only half of mozzarella. Add salt and pepper to taste. Put this in pan and then top with rest of mozzarella. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until bubbling and golden on top.

July 15, 2026

Pasta with Brussels, Cauliflower and Roasted Bread Crumbs

Ingredients 12 oz pasta (long spaghetti or similar works) 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 lb brussel sprouts, cut into half or quarters if they are large 1/2 lb cauliflower, cut into 1 inch pieces Salt and black pepper 1 medium onion, diced small 4 large garlic cloves, minced 4 plump oil packed anchovies, minced (one tin or two if you want) 1 tsp crushed red pepper 1 tsp chopped rosemary 1 tsp chopped thyme 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1 cup parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano (the good stuff NOT the powder) Instructions Boil pasta according to package direction. SAVE 1/2 cup of the cooking water when you drain In a large, deep skillet, heat half the olive oil (1/4 cup) on medium heat and cook brussels, cauliflower, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes until slightly charred on bottom. Add the other 1/4 cup along with onion, garlic, anchovies, red pepper, rosemary and thyme. Cook uncovered until onion is slightly softened (3 minutes). Then cover and cook another 3 minutes until sprouts/cauliflower are tender. Keep warm Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in small skillet and roast the bread crumbs on moderately high heat. Must stir or it will burn. Pull off when golden and crisp Add pasta, reserved cooking water to skillet with veggies. Cook on medium heat until water is nearly absorbed Remove from heat and stir in half the cheese Serve and have bread crumbs and remaining cheese at table to stir in

July 15, 2026