Monday, February 27, 2012

Kale and Caramelized Onion Cannelloni, with Spicy Tomato Sauce

I’ve been traveling a lot recently for work such that I think Virgin America is going to offer I start flying the plane because I know the route to DC so well. This also means less time in the kitchen for yours truly, so when I finally touched down this weekend after a ton of time on the road, I knew one of my first welcome home activities would be to whip up something tasty for dinner.

My weary head could think of nothing more welcoming than warm and comforting baked pasta smothered in spicy sauce, speckled with gooey cheese. I love making fresh pasta….it’s soooooooo delicious and to be honest, not all the hard. You just need the right tools and a bit of faith. Store bought dried pasta simply can’t compete. After a trip to the farmers’ market I found some gorgeous kale that I wanted to work into the dish too. And thus was born my new favorite…cannelloni, a baked pasta in the shape of big cigars filled with gooey goodness. I stuff mine with a mixture of spicy braised kale, sweet caramelized onion, tender sautéed spinach and creamy ricotta, topping it off with a spicy, roasted tomato sauce. It was divine.