Squash and Onion Gratin

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

This recipe came to me from Mushy's sister in law Bev during a recipe exchange.

3-Cheese Pasta Bake
Prep: 20 minutes; Bake: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 (16 oz) package Ziti
2 (10 oz) containers refrigerated Alfredo sauce - (I use Buitoni Refrigerated Alfredo Sauce)
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
2 Large eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Process

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
   
2. Cook the ziti according to package directions, drain and return to the pot.
3. Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with the ziti until evenly coated.
   
4. Spoon half of the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
5. Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese and parsley; spread evenly over pasta mixture in your casserole baking dish.
   
6. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. (If it's not browned slightly - I leave it in a little longer just for the color.)
   

Coquilles St. Jaques - Scallops in Bechamel sauce

This one was sent to me by my sister Mushy in honor of the up coming opening of bay scallop season. She said, "Living on Eastern Long Island with seafood a plenty, this recipe is great when our local sea scallops are in season. It's a late start this year, but I am looking forward to November 3rd!"
Enjoy!

Bechamel Sauce
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1.5 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk or half and half
salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of mace or freshly grated nutmeg.

Process:

1. In a saucepan melt butter over low heat.
   
2. Stir in flour and cook roux, stirring for 3 to 5 minutes. Do not let brown.
   
3. Slowly stir in milk. Cook, stirring with wire whisk until sauce is thick and smooth.
   
4. Season with salt, pepper, and mace/nutmeg.
   
5. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to use. The sauce can be made 1 day ahead and be refrigerated, covered. Reheat over low heat.

Scallops
Ingredients
2 pounds (or more) bay scallops
2 cups dry white wine
2 shallots, finely minced
1/2 cup (I use more) grated Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
chopped parsley for garnish

Process:

1. Bring wine and scallops to a boil in a large saucepan.
   
2. Reduce heat and simmer until scallops are barely done, about one minute.
   
3. Remove poached scallops with a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. Add shallots to wine and cook over medium-high heat until reduced by about half.
   
5. Preheat broiler.
   
6. Slowly stir the wine-shallot mixture into the Bechamel sauce.
   
7. Stir in Gruyere and Parmesan and cook until the cheese is melted.
   
8. Add scallops and remove from heat.
   
9. Turn the mixture into buttered scallop shells (literally) or buttered ramekins.
   
10. Broil 2 to 3 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
    
11. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve at once.