Another recipe from the archives! We hope you are enjoying these recipes as much as we are. To add to this treasure chest, send your favorite recipe and a bit of the story, to staff@cohousing.org.

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Reprinted from 2007:

This recipe is a hearty winter pasta. It’s not vegetarian, wheat-free, or dairy-free, but it sure is good.

I asked Lynne McGee if I could use it for the column because it is a favorite here at Heartwood Cohousing. Lynne is one of our founding members and I have had many, many great meals cooked by her. In fact I just had one tonight and it was terrific. We usually serve this with a great big green salad and some good sourdough bread. Bring a glass of nice red wine to dinner, watch the snow softly fall outside the window and enjoy a really soul-warming meal. 

Pasta Rustica

Serves 15

4 Tbsp. oil

2 yellow onions, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 pounds sausage (bulk or remove casing)

2 tsp. basil

2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 x 28oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 lbs. penne pasta cooked al dente

30 oz. ricotta or cottage cheese

4 cups shredded mozzarella

1 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat oil and saute onion for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add sausage and cook until it is no longer pink. Add spices and tomatoes and simmer 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Oil a baking dish. Toss the pasta, the sauce and the first two cheeses together. Top with Parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve piping hot.