Blushing Penne Bake

                    So tonight I felt like pasta. I love pasta, and you really can't ever go wrong with it. I enjoy baking my pasta in a pan,  sort of as a pseudo-lasagna or variation there of. I made this dish by boiling penne pasta to the firm side of al dente (to finish during the baking process). In a separate pan I cooked off a quarter pound of bacon to about half way done, not crispy. I made my sauce by sauteing sweet onion, red pepper, garlic, and fresh spinach. I then added a jar of  store bought Vodka sauce and to that, ricotta and parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, basil, red pepper flakes, chopped black olives and the bacon.  Don't be afraid to use heat in this dish, extra garlic, extra crushed red pepper, even a couple dashes of hot sauce will compliment the rich cheesiness. I tossed all of the ingredients together into a 9x12 pan, topped it with cracked black pepper and lots of shredded parm and tossed it into the oven for 40 minutes. Delicious! 

                    Baking the pasta adds an element of crusty cheesiness that you can't quite achieve on the stove top. It's a rustic dish, when baked and served with a simple salad is filling and delicious. Pasta is definitely not an everyday meal, but when done right, you wish it were. This dish would be complemented by a spicy, full, Pinot Noir.