Gluten-free Penne Florentine

Gluten Free Penne Florentine

Since discovering Jovial gluten free pasta awhile back, I am cooking pasta more often. Prior to trying Jovial ,  other brands of gluten free pasta just didn't taste like the wheat variety. Now, even my family can't tell the difference! I usually order Jovial on line, but now can buy it from our newly opened MOM's Organic Market!

This recipe kind of came together when I was craving lasagna. I made this meatless, especially for my vegetarian daughter, but you could easily use ground beef or turkey.

Penne Florentine:

• olive oil
• 1 12 oz package penne pasta
• a couple handfuls fresh spinach, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 green pepper, chopped
• 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg
• 1 15 oz.carton part skim ricotta cheese
• grated parmesan cheese
• shredded mozzerella cheese
• dash of nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray baking pan with non-stick spray.

In large saucepan, heat olive oil until shimmering.

Add onions, garlic and green pepper and saute until tender.

Add marinara sauce and simmer (until the kitchen smells amazing!)

Cook penne and drain as directed.

In medium sized bowl, mix 1 egg, ricotta and chopped spinach together. 

Add some parmesan and cooked pasta and mix all together until well combined.

Layer pasta, then a handful of mozzerella cheese in baking pan and repeat once, finishing with mozzerella.

Bake uncovered in oven for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and heated through.

Enjoy!

Feels like winter

Fall came and went swiftly this year and it feels like winter. In years past, my dying annuals would have been pulled out, pansies put in their place, and a huge pile of raked leaves would be accumulating. But I am way behind. The early cold temperatures and bone-chilling wind haven't inspired me to work outside.

Strawberry plants, sweet peas and parsley

Maybe the October trip to the Bahamas set me back a few weeks? Or is it my new interest in watching Sunday afternoon football with my husband? (It is amazing how many hours you can waste sitting on the couch!) Hurricane Sandy was also somewhat of an interference, not bad for our area, but horrific for the folks in New York and New Jersey.

This sparrow was scolding me!

Anyway, today it is cold and wet snow is in the forecast. After an early morning walk out to the compost bin , I looked over at the overgrown and dying garden. I had been putting off this big job of clearing out frost-bitten basil, tomatoes, and pepper plants. It was too late for the basil and any hope for homemade pesto will have to wait until next summer. The cilantro, peas and parsley are alive and well, unfazed by the cold nights we have had recently.

Sweet pea blossom

cilantro going strong!

season's final harvest

I was happy to able to salvage lots of green and light red tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. Time to research recipes for green tomatoes...maybe salsa using the jalapenos?

Lola!