Foodie Fridays!

Happy Friday Bloggies!

I have decided that since Fridays are such happy, happy days we will not concern ourselves with the foolishness of others. Instead, we will discuss food! So, what I have planned is that each Friday I will tell you about one amazing place I ate, and recommend something to eat there, and then also share one of my recipes from my in-progress cookbook.

And once this blog picks up speed, I will be happy to share your recipes also!

Sound good? Good. I knew you would agree with me. :)

Restaurant:

Sunset Grill
Saint Augustine Beach, Florida

What to get: A1A Steakhouse Burger & Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake(only available in Fall)

- The Sunset grill has been on A1A for 22 years. They know their stuff. Owned by two New Yorkers who ran a bar and decided it couldn't be too hard to run a restaurant also, it is one of the lucky places in Saint Augustine to have homemade desserts. And the burgers...oh, the burgers. Perfectly cooked and with really interesting toppings like homemade steak sauce and Vidalia onion relish. Yum! But their real focus is seafood. It's local, it's fresh, it's delish. Go check them out!

Recipe:

Italian Sausage Bake

What you need:

1 16oz box or 1 lb fresh rigatoni
1 jar favorite pasta sauce(Mario Batali's is soooooooo goooooood)
16 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
1.5 lbs Italian Sausage (Hot, Mild, Sweet, it's up to you)*
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350. I like to use a really deep 9x9 baking dish for this, but you can use 9x13. Coat the inside with butter or spray heavily with cooking spray(it keeps the sauce and cheese from ruining it).

In a large skillet, brown the sausage, and remove from the heat. If you use links, let them cool slightly, and cut them into bite size pieces.

In a large pot, boil 4 quarts water and add some olive oil and salt. Pour in pasta and cook according to box directions. If you use fresh, it should only cook for a few minutes, or just until it is softened, but has a little bite left. You don't want the pasta cooked completely because it is going to cook more in the oven.

When the pasta is done, drain it and put back in the pot. Pour in sauce and sausage, mix together. Add a little more sauce if it looks too dry. You should be able to see just a little extra around the noodles.

Grate or slice the cheese.

Pour one half of the pasta mix into the baking pan. Layer on half of the cheese. Pour the rest of the pasta mix on top and then top with the remaining cheese. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the cheese on top start to bubble and brown.

Enjoy!

Bloggies, if you have a favorite restaurant you want on here, or a particular kind of recipe you want to see, let me know and I will post about it!

Happy Weekends,
Shana



* I like to use the links, and then cut them up after cooking, but you can use any kind you want.