Simple Baked Fiori Recipes

SIMPLE BAKED FIORI

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. (while it is cooking, go to step 4)
• Drain and set aside.
• Spray a medium sized saucepan with the cooking spray, or if you want you can use a tsp of olive oil.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for a minute or so over medium heat.
• Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks, and drain the liquids. (If you are using a meat substitute, like Boca, you won't have to cook it, just throw it in and add a few tablespoons of water) Keep the pan at medium heat.
• Add the thyme, oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the beef, and cook for another minute or so.
• Add the tomatoes and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Then, reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes (or until you are ready to place it into the dish) Spoon a small amount of the mixture into the bottom of a 4- quart casserole dish (this should be barely enough to cover the surface).
• Top with half of the cooked pasta, and then layer half of the tomato mixture over the pasta, then layer half of the cheese.
• Layer the remaining pasta on top, and top the pasta with the remaining sauce (the sauce may be liquidy, so just pour it on) and cheese. I always just use enough cheese to make each layer, so it is probably going to be more than the 1 cup.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. (During the last couple of minutes I take off the foil.)
• Enjoy!

FIORI DI SICILIA SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F If you're making shaped cookies using a cookie press, chill two ungreased baking sheets in the freezer while you make the dough.
• Beat together the butter, sugar, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, Fiori di Sicilia, and zest.
• Beat in the egg yolk, then stir in the flour.
• If you're using a cookie press, follow the directions that come with the press to pipe cookies onto the chilled baking sheets.
• If you're not using a cookie press, simply drop the dough by the teaspoonful onto the ungreased baking sheets. Top with coarse white sparkling sugar or colored sugar, if desired.
• Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, until they're brown around the edges.
• Remove from the oven, and wait 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to racks to cool. Be sure to move the cookies before they're totally cool, as otherwise they may stick to the baking sheet.
• Store completely cool cookies airtight, at room temperature, for up to a week; freeze for longer storage.