Paccheri con Ragu di Maiale e Ricotta! (Store Spotlight---extra entry in this post)

Interesting history wouldn't you say? The pasta I used wasn't just any pasta...its imported from Italy....it is bronze pasta because it has bronze dyes in it. It helps sauces to stay on the pasta. The taste is a bit different than you 99 cent spaghetti at Wal- Mart. It's richer..firmer. JR Mushrooms and Specialties was kind enough to let me sample some. Think of all the things you could stuff them with. I went more traditional with not stuffing them because I wanted to test this sauce theory. It held up...those Paccheri are tough. My husband is now a believer in bronze pasta. It's $5.99 for 1.1lb. It is a heavy meal so this can easily feed four people. The quality is worth every penny. JR has many different types of bronze pasta such as: Caserecci Lunghi , Conchiglioni, Fusilli Tricolori, Paglia E Fieno, Pappardelle. On top of having bronze pasta he has Corn Pasta, Egg Pasta, Organic Pasta, Rice Pasta, Sicilian Pasta, and Whole Wheat Pasta. I have my eye on some of the Olive Oils and Sea Salts that he has.

This pasta can be yours. After all it's in my Mother's Day Giveaway. I have some requirements for you to stay qualified for the giveaway.

1.) Visit JR Mushrooms and Specialties.

2.) Sign up for the Emailed Newsletter...its on the right sidebar.

3.) Tell me an item in his store you have never tried before but would love to.

I don't think non bloggers will have a problem with this one.

EXTRA ENTRY TIME: (optional)

Post about this contest and link it back to the original contest post. Then in comments in this post give me the link back. And you have to state why you want to win this. Don't worry it can be for selfish reasons. This will give you 5 additional entries. Do you remember the last extra entry? Anyone who sees your blog post and says they found this through your site (they have to put your blog name in comments in either post) will be 1 extra entry for you. On top of that I have decided if they do that...they get 1 extra entry since they are trying to help someone else out.

Paccheri con Ragu di Maiale e Ricotta (by Maman and Gourmand)

Ingredients

1 tbsp Basil
8 oz Ricotta
2 Onion, chopped
2 Celery stalk, chopped
1 Carrot, chopped
Extra Virgin Olive oil
8 Hot Italian Sausage Links, cooked and thinly sliced
2 cups Red wine
6-7 large peeled vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
1/2 tsp Ground black pepper
1 tbs of Fresh minced garlic

1 lb Paccheri
Salt
Preparation
Mix the basil with the ricotta and allow to marinate for about 15 minutes.
Gently fry the onion, garlic, celery and carrot in a little olive oil in a pan. Add the sausage and brown, turning it well with a wooden spoon. Pour in the red wine and when it has evaporated add the tomatoes. Season with salt and the black pepper. Cook the sauce at a low heat for 30 minutes.
Cook the pasta until al dente in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain and toss the pasta with the meat sauce. Serve immediately in bowls, with the ricotta sprinkled over the top and extra basil.