RING PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 3 quarts water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Drain pasta and immerse in cold water; when cool enough to touch, in about 1 minute, drain again. Mix with butter.
• Lift pasta, a handful at a time, and let strands shake out until fairly straight; lay neatly around the center of a ring mold (see notes). Repeat, using all the pasta; pat to make level. Let stand at least 1 hour (see notes).
• Invert a flat, rimmed microwave-safe plate over mold. Holding containers together, flip over and lift off mold.
• Cover pasta with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat in a microwave oven on full power (100%) until pasta is hot, about 5 minutes. Uncover and fill with beef stroganoff.

Steps:

• Combine breadcrumbs with grated cheese and parsley
• Heat a pot of water to boil for pasta rings
• Heat a Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat
• Add EVOO, 3 turns of the pan, add carrots, celery, onions, garlic and partially cover the pot
• Sweat the vegetables 5 minutes, add beef and season with salt, pepper, fennel seed and red pepper flakes and brown lightly, crumble into fine pieces
• Add a glass of red wine and let it absorb fully
• Stir in passata and simmer at lowest heat 1 hour, then add peas and basil then simmer 10 minutes more
• Remove from heat to cool to room temperature
• Cook pasta 2 minutes less than package directions in salted water, drain and cool, then add to sauce
• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Spray or brush a large bundt or springform pan liberally with EVOO or spray with non-aerosol OO spray, add breadcrumb mixture to coat liberally and gently press into place along sides and bottom, reserving extra crumb mixture
• Fill pan with half the pasta, then nest in diced ham and cheese, top with remaining pasta and top that with remaining breadcrumb mixture
• Bake pasta 25 to 30 minutes mid-oven to golden and hot through
• Let stand 10 minutes, then invert carefully on large cake stand or serving platter or cutting board