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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

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

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  

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.

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.  

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! 

We’re giving away 4 passes to Disneyland
to celebrate Family time! 

Elizabeth's La Romanella Big Family Dinner with Love

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Baked Penne Pasta Recipe

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What's your favorite pasta dish?

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