Features of "Adriana’s Pasta Pie"

Cooking time: 3¾ hours
Preparation time: 35 min
Serves: 10

Ingredients for "Adriana’s Pasta Pie"
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1 1/2 lbs ground beef (I used 95%lean and it was fine)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 small onion, chopped
3 eggs
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
3 cups cooked tubetti (tiny tubes or baby shells)
1/2 lb mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 lb provolone cheese, shredded
1/3 cup olive oil
4 minced garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
56 ounces crushed tomatoes in puree
24 ounces tomato paste
20 ounces water
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh basil leaf, torn
2 ounces romano cheese
Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Method of cooking "Adriana’s Pasta Pie"

Read directions all the way through first********* Meat Crust: Mix ground beef, parsley, bread crumbs, onion, eggs, 1/2 cup parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl very gently. Do not overmix. Put mixture into lightly greased 10-inch pie plate or 11" x 7" casserole dish. Shape crust so that it’s about 1" thick. Tomato Basil Sauce:. In large pot, cook garlic and red pepper flakes in oil on low heat for 4 minutes only. Add tomatoes, paste, water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, sugar and basil leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce to low heat. Add chunk of Romano cheese and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Filling:. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the filling (3 cups cooked pasta, 1/2 pound mozzarella, 1/2 pound provolone, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and 2 cups tomato basil sauce) in a bowl. Scoop into meat crust. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Let cool for at least 15 minutes. Top each slice with tomato basil sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.