Mostaccioli or Baked "Spaghetti"

How many of us added a twist to an old school recipe; and I literally mean an old SCHOOL recipe...Remember those baked mostaccioli or spaghetti you would eat at lunch on hot lunch days well I took the recipe to the next level...

When I decided to go on this health kick a few years back and was only allowed 1 cheat day this was one of items on the menu. I start with chopping 1-2 cups of green peppers, onions, and set them to the side. Next I brown 1.5lbs of ground turkey (truthfully you could use any type of ground meat) and remove the casing and brown some Italian sausage either turkey or combo meat sweet and hot. While that is browning I then start the boil on the noodles (Penne, Fusilli, Farfalle, Rotini which are defined later),  no I am not that fancy that I make my own pasta I will get there one day VERY VERY soon. After the pasta is created and the meat is brown with the grease and a tablespoon of butter you add the green peppers and onions to the skillet. All the while I take tomatoes and dice them and also puree some to make my sauce along with adding 2 tablespoons of basil, marjoram, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, seasoning salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and the secret ingredient to tone down the bitterness of the tomatoes a pinch of sugar. In a pan combine ALL ingredients: sauce, meat, pasta, vegetable into a pan along with shredded mild cheese and cube Colby cheese and top it off with shredded Mozzarella then baked for 45mins to 1 hour and let chill enough to spoon onto serving dish and enjoy.

Now I know there is no way that any one's cafeteria actually did ALL of this which is why it's an old SCHOOL recipe with a twist called Ari's Mostaccioli. *takes bow I hope you enjoy this recipe and add your own twist to make it your own. 

The different types of pasta, descriptions and literal translations if applicable:

Fusilli

Three-edged spiral, usually in mixed colors, many vendors and brands sold as Fusilli are two-edged

From the diminutive of fuso (spindle), relating to the idea of a cylindrical rotating object Little spindles.

Penne

Medium length tubes with ridges, cut diagonally at both ends

Pens (after a quill pen)

Ziti	Long, narrow hose-like tubes

Farfalle

Bow tie or butterfly shaped

Butterflies

Rotini

2-edged spiral, tightly wound, some vendors and brands are 3-edged and sold as Rotini

UGLY Sweater Run

 7

*sighs Where do I begin well I guess from the beginning.............THIS RUN WAS NO JOKE for me but apparently to others it served as a reason to come out with family and friends to just enjoy every one's company.  It all began with a lonely road...LOL let me stop it began with a plethora of people. Here's the VIDEO http://youtu.be/GzeNA66SGvo The run was approximately 3.1 miles long on city streets.  Runners and walkers dress up in their worst holiday sweaters, maybe have some holiday drinks before lining up at the start line.   It started in waves because of the amount of people participating, I was in the 3rd wave so my start was a little bit later than a expected. So I started out VERY VERY strong doing my best time ever 12:57 Mile 1 marker 13:17 Mile 2 marker cause I decided to stop and grab a cup of warm cocoa and 13:00 Mile 3...actually finishing really strong. I am glad that I did the run and actually am signing up for another run which is the Shamrock Shuffle....110 days n counting for training...

But back to the ugly Sweater Run I did the race with my best Buddy Tyree of course he finished WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY before me but did an excellent job at encouraging me along the way. The weather was also a challenge but thank goodness for thermal running clothes. It was a beautiful 31 F.  After finishing I treated myself to some well deserved Chipotle!!!