There is an age old question out there that instills fear in some, annoys others, and for a select few, excites; what’s for dinner? I was confronted by that question after one particularly long and chilly day and being in the latter category; I set out to create. The cupboard was a little bare and the fridge pathetic, but I had three important things; campanelle, dried cranberries and gorgonzola. My take on this classic dish is incredibly quick and simple. It’s also perfect to warm you up after a long day of holiday shopping.
Gorgonzola Campanelle and Cheese
8oz., campanelle, al dente
2 cups milk, warm
2 TBS butter
2 TBS flour
4-6 oz gorgonzola, depending on how strong you want it, at room temp
½ tsp fresh cracked pepper
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
½ cup bread crumbs
Bring water to a boil and add campanelle. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and add to a medium sized baking dish.
Warm the milk in a pan over medium heat. In a sauce pan melt the butter over medium heat then add the flour. Stir well to combine. Allow the mixture to brown slightly before adding the milk a little at a time, stirring to incorporate after each addition. When all the milk has been added, turn the heat up to medium high and bring to a boil. When the mixture is boiling turn the heat off and add the cheese. Stir to combine. Then pour over the cooked campanelle. Add the cranberries and toss mixture. Top with the bread crumbs and place in the oven uncovered to brown. Serve right away.
Serves 4
For the health conscious among us the butter can be substituted for Smart Balance, the milk for rice milk and white flour for whole wheat.
If campanelle is not available orecchiette or macaroni do just as well.
Erin do you have an RSS or feed so I can add you to my reader.
I do now!
Yum… pardon me as I wipe the drool from my chin. I’m going to make this on Sunday.
Yum! I have some dried cranberries in my cupboard, and would never have thought of adding them to pasta. Thanks Erin.
Great recipe Erin– the cranberries married perfectly with the sweet gorgonzola and the pepper added the perfect amount of spiciness.
I can’t wait to see what you post next.
Even W., who has often avowed that he does not enjoy macaroni and cheese went back for seconds and thirds on this one!
Wow, Erin, that looks and sounds marvelous–and you are right,
seemingly simple as well.
Thank you all!
Yum! This sounds delish and covers my two favourite food groups – carbs and dairy. Yay!
Shall have to whip this up if we get a cooler day this week.
BTW, love the new look.
Thanks Debbie!
I haven’t made this in such a long time, but I think that is about to change.
…..and we have a cooler day!!!!
This shall be on the menu tonight as I will be starving after going swimming this afternoon.
BTW… didn’t know you rode….. can’t make out what exactly it is. More info please.
Debbie, I wish I had a cooler day. I’m dying for a good roast.
I learned last January, but flopped the test. I bought Klaus in July to practice on before trying again. It’s a BMW F 650 GS, a powerful bike, but gentle enough not to scare the heck out of me. Phil and I have plans to ride to Mongolia after his retirement in 7-10 years. It is part of the reason we want to have a little place in France, its a good jumping off point.
It turned out to not be a cooler day…… sigh. So we went to the movies instead of having dinner….
I hear you on the roast. I actually bought a lovely shoulder of lamb monday and wanted to cook it up with veg and herbs and garlic and fix that roast craving… looks like I might have to freeze it for another day.
Count us in for the ride to Mongolia!!!!!! Maybe our place can be the jump point here in France?? We are on a Yamaha Tenere at present. I don’t have my own, but this does two up easily. If we had the space I would be hard pressed to not buy another bike. Still have a bit of a hankering for a Buell, but would also love a custom v-twin trike (not the big VW ones – yuck!). That is my dream.
Debbie, Sounds great, though I must warn you my Mongolian is not coming along as well as I’d hoped. I guess I have a few years! I used to ride with Phil on his ’02 Suzuki SV 650, but I really wanted my own. He’ll ride the SV for a few more years and then switch over to a BMW F 800 GS. I think Klaus converted him.
A racer friend of Phil’s had a Buell, he loved it, but had a truckload of problems with it.
Gulp! I have never known a Buell to have problems, but there is always a first time. We had a Harley Sportster in Australia and everytime we went to the dealership I used to cadge a ride on a Buell or walk around admiring them while Wayne finished his business with the guys.
I will email you the website of the trike company in Australia that I want to make my trike. The first one I test rode was so incredible. I will always remember flames shooting out of the pipes when I started it up…. sigh. Guess you can take the girl off the bike, but never really take the bike off the girl…
Debbie, Yeah, it’s kind of a bummer, but if you and Wanye are up for it they are supposed to be a lot of fun.
Definitely email me and I’ll send you better pics of Klaus.