Monday, February 18, 2013

Let's Make Some Pasta! Meatball Penne Bake, Creamy Sausage Spaghetti, and Grilled Veggies (La Romanella Sweepstakes)

Our weeks are busy, like I am sure yours are too - kids, lots of activities, school work. We do try to find time to spend meal time together during the week, but it can be hard. However when the weekend rolls around, I like to make a big dinner on either Saturday or Sunday (or both depending our the weekend plans!). This not only allows us to all reconnect (without any pressures of homework or after school activities) as well as share stories and our experiences of the week.

penne and meatball bake

So what does that big dinner consist of in our house?
Well, I usually let the kids help me plan the menu.
It is fun to cook with them and have them be a part of the meal planning and preparation...
and there is never a shortage of ideas!
This past weekend we had the pleasure of company,
and I decided it was time to go all out for an Italian feast to be enjoyed with family and friends!
big family dinner Italian style

As an avid Smart and Final shopper I think of La Romanella when I think of my ingredients for an Italian inspired meal. My pantry is stocked with La Romanella olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pasta sauces, canned tomatoes, and pasta. My kids are also HUGE fans of their meatballs - also staples in my freezer.



meatball penne bake and creamy sasage pasta

We set the table and served up our menu family style!
My menu included
A new creation: Meatball Penne Bake
A long time favorite recipe: Creamy Sausage Spaghetti
A Vegetable: Grilled Squash and Red Peppers
And a big TREAT! La Romanella Garlic Bread Loaf
(Oh there...was a salad and fresh cherry tomatoes too!)

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Meatball Penne Bake
meatball penne bake

NOTE: Both recipes call for pasta - you can make your penne or spaghetti earlier in the day,as both will be added to other ingredients and be heated back up as you prepare your meal.
 
Ingredients
25 La Romanella 1/2 ounce meatballs (I used the smaller meatballs for the bake...they also come in 1 oz size)
1 package (16 oz.) La Romanella Penne Lisce
1 Jar La Romanella Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
La Romanella Olive Oil - for adding to pasta water.

1 Cup Ricotta Cheese 
1 1/2 to 2 Cups Mozerella Cheese
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp. basil
smart and final la romanella ingredients

Bake It!
  • Preheat oven to 400F and bake the 25 meatballs on a cookie sheet (or in the dish you plan on using to bake the casserole) for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven.
  • Boil water for cooking pasta. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and a dash of salt; Bring to a boil; add penne and cook according to package directions (about 10 minutes); Remove pasta from water and drain.
  • Mix together 1 cup ricotta and one cup mozzarella with the basil and oregano.
  • In a 9 x 13 baking dish spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of the dish; Add about 1/2 of the pasta to the dish; Add the meatballs (scattered all around) and the cheese mixture (all around); add another 1/2-1 cup pasta sauce; fill with the remaining pasta; Pour the remain pasta sauce atop of the dish; sprinkle with another 1/2 to 1 cup of mozzarella.
  • Place in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400F.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped basil (if desired) or La Romanella Parmesan Cheese

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Creamy Sausage Spaghetti
creamy sausage pasta with spinach

Ingredients
La Romanella Mild Italian Sausage (5 per package)
La Romanella Olive Oil
La Romanella whole peeled pear tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
La Romanella Spaghetti
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups half and half
2 Tablespoons fresh basil, coarsely chopped
OPTIONAL: 2 cups chopped spinach
smar and final la romanella ingredients

Make It!
  • In a large pot, bring water to a boil; add 1 T olive oil and salt.
  • Once boiling, add the spaghetti to the water and cook for 10 minutes; then remove from the water and drain.
  • Add 2 T Olive Oil to a large pan, on medium low heat, heat the oil and add 2 minced cloves of garlic. Add the sausage to the pan - I remove the meat from the casing - just grab one end and squeeze down. Cook the sausage through, about 15 minutes.
  • Add the drained (and chopped) pear tomatoes to the sausage, cook for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the half&half, stirring to combine.
  •  OPTIONAL: Add your spinach now if you like - I like it...my family does not, so I split the pasta and add spinach to a portion of the dish.
  • Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the sausage mixture and cook all together for about 10 minutes.

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Grilled Zucchini and Red Pepper  
grilled vegetables with goat cheese
Ingredients 
3 zucchini squash
1 (or two) Red Peppers
2 Tblspn La Romanella Olive Oil 
Optional: La Romanella Balsamic Vinegar and/or Crumbled Goat Cheese 

Make It!
  • Wash the vegetables and cut into slices; place into a large bowl and toss with La Romanella Olive Oil.
  • I grilled mine vegetables on my indoor drill for about 25 minutes - flipping 1-2 times. You can cook them in a baking dish at 400F or on the stove top on a grill pan or saute pan with olive oil.
  • Sprinkle crumbled Goat cheese atop the vegetables and drizzle with balsamic vinegar if you desire.
garlic bread

As a very special treat, I also picked up a La Romanella Garlic Bread Loaf!!!!
The meal was rounded out with some fresh cherry tomatoes,
cut in half and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a fresh salad.  

meatball penne bake, creamy suasage pasta big dinner

While we celebrate togetherness with family and friends at 504 Main...
we want you to experience some togetherness too with the opportunity to spend time with family at the Happiest place on Earth! 

#ChooseSmart and follow along with Smart and Final on these places!
********
Hurry over to smart and final to grab this promotion!
Between 2 /6/13 - 3/5/13, buy any 1 La Romanella product and enter your register reward online to be entered to win a Weekend in Las Vegas or a $50 Smart Cash card!
La Romanella Sweepstakes

What's your favorite pasta dish?
Signature
This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Smart & Final #CBias #ChooseSmart #SocialFabric

79 comments:

  1. Everything looks so delicious, Holly!

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  2. Shut the front door, Holly! AMAZING giveaway! Our favorite pasta dish hands down is spaghetti. Both of my littles could eat their weight in it!! Lasagna is a close second. :)

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  3. Love your give-aways!!! Our favorite pasta dish is 3 cheese tortellini (Trader Joe's) mixed with shrimp & vinegrette.

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  4. Mmmm, there are so many pasta dishes I love! But I think our favorite for family dinner is a delicious baked spaghetti recipe from my grandma. :-)

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  5. Ok now I'm starving - that all looks so good! The kids favorite is spaghetti and meatballs. Mine is papardelle with mushrooms and truffles. ;)

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  6. The family favorite is lasagna, why don't they ever pick the quick and easy ones?

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  7. My kids love love tortillini-- but if it is a big family gathering Lasagna is always great.

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  8. Your dinner looks amazing! My family likes spaghetti and meatballs or Chicken Parm!

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  9. Wow, that looks fabulous!!!

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  10. That looks amazing! Baked ziti is a favorite around here! :)

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  11. Homemade Mac & Cheese is my go to Italian dish. Love your easy to follow recipes!

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  12. My favorite: Creamy Sausage Spaghetti
    lic_gcampos@hotmail.com

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  13. This looks incredible! I love the different choices. I make turkey meatballs a lot, but I love your grilled zucchini and red peppers!

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  14. Anonymous1:11 AM

    The meatball penne would be a huge hit at my house!! Thanks for the idea!!

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  15. I want to come eat at your house! I love, love La Romanella products...especially the pasta!

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  16. OK...I have to brag..I was the taster and the food was scrumptious. I even made the sausage pasta the night we got home. Thanks Holly!!!

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  17. our family favorite is Basque Style Shrimp Spaghetti. Your recipes look delish. thank you.

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  18. My favorite pasta dish to have is Lasagne with Garlic Bread!

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  19. Since I'm on a diet - my fav. pasta dish is zuchini or squash noodles made from my spiral vegetable peeler. I add frozen meatballs or chicken breast to it for a complete meal.

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  20. Lasagna. My family loves this dish :)

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  21. Pasta with herbs, tomato, white wine and cream sauce..mmmm!

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  22. We love meatballs!

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  23. We love meatballs!

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  24. Tortellini or spaghetti and my special ricotta meatballs

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  25. Anonymous6:34 AM

    Just simple spaghetti and meatballs...the kids won't eat it unless there are meatballs ;)

    aechika at hotmail dot com

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  26. I will eat ANY pasta ANY time! Great post! =)

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  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  28. I love making big Sunday dinners, too. It's the only time I really have to spend hours in the kitchen, which is one of my favorite things. One of my favorite pasta dishes to make is homemade mac & cheese.
    All your dishes look great - especially the grilled zucchini - YUM!

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  29. I'm a classic Lasagna kind of gal, but Eggplant Parmesan is yummo too!

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  30. I make an awesome pasta salad...at least, I think it's pretty awesome since everyone always requests that I bring it! ;)

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  31. Our family favorite is still baked ziti. We are always trying new recipes, but we keep coming back.

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  32. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your site! Wonderful ideas...I can't wait to try them!

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  33. Holly your feast looks amazing- we LOVE pasta! Lasagna is one of our favorite meals

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  34. Spaghetti and meatballs

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  35. My homemade spaghetti sauce over angel hair pasta is my fav! I got the recipe from an elderly Italian gentleman many years ago and my family all loves it! Patti@OldThingsNew
    http://patricia-krank.blogspot.com/

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  36. Our family favorite has to be lasagna!

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  37. I love to make Chicken Alfredo or Chicken Parmesan.

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  38. My family loves plain old marinara sauce with rigatoni.

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  39. Baked ziti is the way to go for us!!! Hoping we win the giveaway :D

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  40. Lasagna is something EVERYONE in our family will eat. We don't often get a meal that every person will, so that is our favorite!

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  41. We LOVE lasagna! It's so yummy :)

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  42. Our favorite is Spaghetti! Thanks and thanks for giveaway :)

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  43. I like to make a Rigatoni and Italian Sausage dish. So good and a big hit with my family! :)

    Thank you for the giveaway!!

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  44. My son likes simple spaghetti with meatballs. I like Spinach artichoke alfredo pasta.
    (Nancy Partin)

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  45. What a feast! Looks great, Holly!!

    Liz

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  46. Lasagna is favorite of my kids.
    Joye Rast

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  47. I like ravioli but my kids prefer penne...

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  48. I love pasta. So yummy!

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  49. I serve spaghetti most often.

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  50. We love plain old penne and spaghetti sauce around here. With a picky eater I find it hard to deviate form that plan, but usually end up throwing some things into my servings to "spice it up" a bit.

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  51. I love a good veggie lasagna!!!

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  52. I love a good veggie lasagna!!!

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  53. Wow, love the pasta dishes featured! Will have to try. Our favorite to make is Chicken Bow-Tie Pasta, so nummy! Also just love plain ol' spaghetti and meatballs.

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  54. You made me VERY hungry!
    My favorite is lasagna - love that it's in one pan and who doesn't love all that cheesy goodness! I mix it up with what's inside - my favorite is my eggplant kale sausage version. Recipe on my blog if you want to check it out. I also love chicken and spinach. yum!

    Crystal @EatDrinkClev

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  55. mushrooms & Spaghetti
    jenn mccullar

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  56. Lasagna or spaghetti <3

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  57. WHAT?!?! That's just too much heavenly fabulousness on that table!! YUMMY. My fave is lasagna!! :)

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  58. My homemade meatballs with any shape pasta that's hanging out in the cupboard!

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  59. I love tortellini - I make a great one

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  60. I love pasta! But since I have a very young family, I think the favorite is traditional spaghetti. It pleases everyone!

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  61. I love making cheese-y lasagna!! :D Thanks

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  62. Lasagna is our favorite!
    sonyadmorris@gmail.com

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  63. we love spaghetti. amypugmire@live.com

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  64. Lasagna, but since it takes too long to make... it is usually Spaghetti.

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  65. Luv pasta, don't eat red pasta sauce, so usually it's some roasted garlic with butter and dash of lemon juice over angel hair pasta with some mushrooms!!

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  66. Our entire family LOVES a simple pot of spaghetti. Sometimes we will add Italian sausage to spice it up a bit.

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  67. Tortellini with roasted butternut squash, chicken and tomatoes with an alfredo sauce.

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  68. Our Family Fav is Classic Spaghetti with a Chunky Tomato Meat Sauce. Yum! Great Giveaway!

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  69. Love making Fettucine Alfredo!

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  70. My standby spaghetti and meatballs is suddenly lacking.

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  71. Definitely spaghetti! My kids love it!

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  72. I LOVE to make baked ziti you can add so many great things to it to change the flavors.

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  73. Tuna casserole and turkey lasagna always favorites but love experimenting using veggie pasta, different sauces, different veggies -- sometimes veggie with meat substitutes, sometimes with meat or even a half and half casserole. Large family - eat pasta and casseroles quite a bit here.
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

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  74. Anonymous9:54 PM

    spegetti

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!