Pasta Pie

I saw this picture on Pinterest and followed the link to the Noble Pig website. They adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. I made this for my husband birthday dinner last week. Nothing says love like a home cooked meal.

Ingredients:

1 pound rigatoni
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound ground sirloin
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
butter for pan
salt
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces coarsely grated mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta until it is just a little underdone. My pasta box said to boil for 14 minutes - so instead I boiled the rigatoni for 12 minutes. Drain the pasta and toss with one tablespoon of olive oil. Set aside.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet and add ground sirloin. Cook, stirring occasionally until browned. Add garlic, salt and pepper. Cook for an additional two minutes.

Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet and simmer until thickened for about 20 minutes.

While the meat and tomatoes are simmering - toss the pasta with the parmesan cheese.

Butter a 9-inch spring-form pan. Tightly pack the pasta into the pan standing each piece on end.

Now spread the meat sauce over the top of the pasta. Push the meat sauce into the pasta holes. Filling each and every hole. Many people who made this recipe found filling the pasta holes therapeutic and satisfying. I found filling the pasta holes tedious and frustrating.

Place your spring-form pan on a cookie sheet. This way you can easily remove pasta pie with oven mitts. Place the pasta pie in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes remove the pasta pie and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden.

Remove from the oven and cover loosely with foil and let stand for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen - then carefully remove the ring of the spring-form pan.  Cut the pasta pie into wedges and serve with extra sauce.

My Pasta Pie looked almost like the picture on the Noble Pig. I am a rock star! Oh no! I forgot to take pictures of my wedges! Now I am not a rock star anymore! Oh well.....