Cavatini

If you're looking for a bowl of rich and hearty goodness, then this dish is right up your alley.  This is one of our (many) favorite pasta meals. It’s just a little bit spicy (because I add extra crushed red pepper flakes) with a whole lot of deliciousness.  With the cheesy goodness and the aroma of the pepperoni you'll want to go grab a plate.  Serve it with an Italian or Caesar salad, some freshly toasted garlic bread and your favorite bottle of wine for a fantastic comforting meal.

Cavatini

1 lb. ground beef or sausage or combination of ground and sausage
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, I add extra
1 teaspoon oregano
3&1/2 ounces pepperoni, you can add whole or slice, I use Boars Head
1/2 cup Each - 3 different types of pasta
15 1/2 ounce jar spaghetti sauce, I used can of organic crushed tomatoes
8 ounces small curd cottage cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and reserve a 9 X 13-inch ovenproof baking dish. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the garlic,onion and green pepper. Drain any excess liquid and reserve. Add spaghetti sauce and remainder seasonings to the browned meat and stir. Add pepperoni simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the pastas as directed on the package and drain.

Place cooked pasta into a 9- inch by 13-inch ovenproof baking dish. Top pasta with 1/2 of meat mixture, spoon all the cottage cheese over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese. Repeat layers, omitting the cottage cheese and ending with the mozzarella cheese.

 Bake for 30 minutes.

Try adding some of your favorite veggies to compliment this dish.  You can even add a layer of ricotta as well.  Have fun with this one.

Enjoy!