One of the fun things about living three miles from the Portland City Limits is discovering places that have been around for a hundred years or so. I get that “old” is totally is completely subjective – a box of Twinning’s Tea touts 300 years of their business’ existence – but it wasn’t until 1805 that Lewis and Clark made it out here to start the ruination of the Native Americans. The oldest restaurant in Portland is Huber’s – opened in 1879. We were there a month ago for the first time. Good food!
Anyway…
Reading the local paper – The Oregonian – last week, I saw an article about a deli/meat market/sausage company called “Otto’s Sausage Kitchen“. I saw they had old-fashioned hot dogs and decided we needed a trek into town. Old fashioned skin-on hot dogs are one of life’s great joys.
So… how you ask, do a hot dog place and an Italian Pasta Dish have in common?!? Quite simply – sausage.
Otto’s has a great selection of German-style and other sausages – from Cajun Andouille to Liverwurst, several Italian varieties, and others I can’t recall right now… We filled up the freezer…
We picked up some bulk Hot Italian sausage, and that was the impetus for last nights dinner…
I had picked up the pasta a while back with the intention of making a paccheri, but Victor said he was making one with the sausage we just bought. I’m no fool – I didn’t argue!
The concept is really quite simple.
Start with a small springform pan. Grease it and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs to help it release.
He made a thin-ish meat sauce with the hot Italian sausage, a bit of onion, garlic, his pasta sauce, and a pinch of oregano. Then it was precook the pasta until almost done, – package said 16 minutes he went for 12. He stacked the pasta upright and began filling them. It went rather quickly – spooning and drizzling the meat and the sauce…
He topped it with the rest of the sauce, covered it with parchment, then with foil, and into a 325°F oven for 45 minutes. Ity came out, foil cover removed, and topped with cheese – back in for 15 minutes – uncovered.
Winner. Winner. Pasta Dinner!
It really did come out good! Naturally – even using a 6″ springform pan – we have lots of leftovers. Intpo the freezer for another day.
In the meantime… we have lots of fun things to make…..
