like an old sweater, but better: baked pasta with roasted vegetables


It’s been rainy and grey for the past 2 days now and I’m totally getting back into cooking and baking again. It feels good and familiar, like wearing a comfy sweater with holes in the cuffs to poke your thumbs through. I may not win any style points but it feels so right. Last night’s dinner is like that sweater. It ain’t pretty but it was comfort through and through.

14 comments to “like an old sweater, but better: baked pasta with roasted vegetables”

  1. 1
    Anonymous   October 17, 2007 at 2:03 pm

    I LOVE how you combined all those different vegetables – I mean, I would be constantly fretting that the tomatoes would get to soggy or the kale would get limp before the yam was ready etc,etc.
    Clearly this kind of yumminess calls for an intrepid spirit – just do it – the ingredients are good, ergo, the dish will be fantastic. I’m going to try it this weekend. Thanks for the inspriation.
    jenn in kansas

  2. 2
    Christina   October 17, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    Looks warmly delicious. Welcome back from Europe, by the way!

  3. 3
    Joanne   October 17, 2007 at 3:18 pm

    I’m drooling over all the gooey cheese you’ve added to this dish. It has been ages since I’ve prepared a pasta dish. The man’s not a fan of pasta…but hey more for me to enjoy!

    It has been gray and overcast for the past few days over here too. No major rainfall just some light drizzle. We are expecting more on Saturday when I trek over to the farmer’s market…I will keep my eyes peeled for those apples you mentioned – belle de boskoop!

  4. 4
    nan   October 17, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    This sounds so perfect for cold, rainy days, and it’s been so nasty out. May I ask where you buy your wholewheat rigatoni? (I’m in Vancouver too). I’ve never seen it in any of the stores I shop.

  5. 5
    kickpleat   October 17, 2007 at 9:07 pm

    thanks anon! it’s just cooking and roasting vegetables is really pretty simple. it’s a definitely a winning combo no matter what vegetables you have on hand.

    christina, this meal is perfect for cool weather!

    nothing makes a dish better than gooey cheese, joanne!

    jen, ww pasta isn’t my first choice, but i had a huge bag so i’m determined to get through it…and in a meal like this it really doesn’t make much difference since there are such strong flavours.

    thanks fibre, this is such warm comfort fare!

    nan, i bought my huge bag at costco…but i’ve seen smaller bags at other stores. even my tiny neighbourhood store in strathcona has a pretty decent selection of ww pasta.

  6. 6
    jen   October 17, 2007 at 4:16 pm

    That looks fantastic. How do you like whole wheat pasta? I tried it for the first time this week and it didn’t do much for me.

  7. 7
    Fiber   October 17, 2007 at 7:35 pm

    That’s what I love about winter – cooking hearty comfort food dishes like this. Love the combination of veggies!

  8. 8
    Patricia Scarpin   October 18, 2007 at 5:21 am

    Baked pasta has a special place in my heart, Kickpleat – and with vegetables… yummy!

  9. 9
    kickpleat   October 18, 2007 at 12:13 pm

    patricia, it’s a perfect baked pasta too with so many different flavours and textures. baked pasta is one of my favorites too.

    beth, i love the idea of blending it up with sour cream for a dip! yum.

  10. 10
    beth   October 18, 2007 at 8:09 am

    This is pretty much exactly how I roast vegetables. Right down to the balsamic and the soy. Which is pretty weird.
    And it is soooo yummy.
    It’s the best in weather just like this, nice and cool for using the oven, with all the fresh fall produce coming in.
    Sometimes I like throwing the reuslts into spaghetti sauce, sometimes I like blending it and adding sour cream to turn it into a dip for chips and fresh veggies and sometimes I just serve it as a side dish. Leftovers of this are the best, but they never seem to last very long.

  11. 11
    tania   October 19, 2007 at 4:00 pm

    lordy that looks delicious!

  12. 12
    eviedee   October 19, 2007 at 5:54 pm

    Feeling inspired by your recipe and title, both are lovely.

  13. 13
    eatme_delicious   October 21, 2007 at 5:11 pm

    Great idea to use up all the vegetables in your fridge! I love roasted vegetables with baked pasta. Such a homey and comforting dish. I would’ve been scared to do something like this before (adding whatever was in the fridge) but now I think I could handle it! 😉

  14. 14
    kickpleat   October 22, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    lordy, lordy, tania, it sure was!!

    thank you, evidee!

    eatme_delicious, you needn’t be afraid…it’s a no brainer!

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