Easy Pasta Bake

I love pasta,just in any form. It becomes all the more exicting when i see new shapes ,sizes and colors,and all of them are shaped for a purpose to provide a good source to hold the sauce that we make. Today i was kinda lazy and had just a few ingredients in my fridge,and thats what i made my Pasta Bake with... its inspired by AU Gratin recipe,simply layered with a creamy white sauce with a hint of tomato and vegetables of choice and some nice sharp cheddar cheese. I added some breadcrumbs for some extra crunch! overall an excellent meal and with a side of some crusty garlic bread it would make anyone's day!


Easy Pasta Bake

Ingredients

Macaroni Pasta shells 1cup cooked aldente according to package intructions

choice mixed veggies, i have used red pepper,mushrooms,green peas and broccoli 1cup

tomato puree 1/4cup

flour 1tbsp

butter 1tbsp

vegetable stock or water 2tbsp

heavy cream 1tbsp

mixed itallian herbs 1tsp

salt and pepper for seasoning

fresh basil a few sprigs

sharp cheddar grated 1/2cup

olive oil 2tbsp

grated parmesan cheese 2tbsp

bread crumbs 2tbsp

Method

cook the pasta and set aside

heat olive oil saute the vegetables ,don't overcook them.season and set aside

now for the white sauce

heat butter and add the flour,cook under low flame don't burn it,just for a couple of mins,

add the stock and the cream and cook until it thickens.add the herbs and tomato puree and mix well. season with salt and pepper .to make it even more richer add all cream instead of stock.

In a glass bowl 1st add some of  the sauce and then layer the vegetables,top it with the pasta and basil and finally add the rest of the sauce. now sprinkle the cheeses and the breadcrumbs.

now bake in the oven at 400f for 15mins. until its nice and bubbly and the cheese has melted and formed a crust.

serve hot with garlic bread.