Meatless Friday

[Kitchen Witch]

Since tomorrow is Friday - and being old-fashioned - I will have a meatless meal -

CREAMY BAKED FOUR CHEESE ZITI

TOPPING:
½ c. melted butter
1 ½ c. plain, toasted breadcrumbs
½ c. Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine; set aside.

PASTA:
1 c. Fontina cheese, shredded
¾ c. cheddar cheese, shredded
½ c. Pecorino Romano cheese
¼ c. Parmesan cheese, grated
1 lb. ziti
1 T. salt
2 t. butter
2 t. flour
1 ½ c. heavy cream
2 t. nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 500°. Add pasta and salt to boiling water. While pasta is cooking, melt butter and whisk in flour until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in cream, increase heat and bring to a boil. Add nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm. When pasta is al dente, drain about 5 seconds, leaving pasta slightly wet. Add pasta to a bowl with cheeses; immediately pour cream mixture over. Stir until cheeses are melted and mixture is combined. Transfer pasta to a 13 X9-inch baking dish and sprinkle evenly with topping, pressing down lightly. Bake until topping is golden brown, about 7 minutes.

This will be served with one of my salad mixes with tomatoes, cucumber, radishes and chick peas. Simple dressing of olive oil and lemon juice, salt, pepper, basil.

French bread bruschetta - thick slices of French bread, rubbed with garlic; brushed lightly with olive oil, broiled lightly and served with a spoon of diced tomatoes on top with basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

If anyone wants dessert - there is strawberry swirl ice cream in the freezer and a bottle of strawberry syrup in the fridge along side a can of whipped cream and several cans of nuts are in the pantry - it's called - do-it-yourself dessert - LOL!