Farfalle con Pesto Rosso

My favorite italian pasta sauce is the Rosa sauce, or Pink sauce. It is a delicious blend of marinara and white sauce. Sweeter lighter than a white sauce, but richer than a marinara, it goes with anything, from ravioli (my favorite is spinach and cheese ravioli with pink sauce) to penne, or over chicken, fish, you name it. A popular variation is the Vodka Cream sauce, which is similar, exept that vodka is added and then simmered out, to give a different depth to the sauce. Both are delicious.

For TND last week (yes, yes, on Wednesday) I decided to make a few of my favorite pastas for a "Pasta Tasting". Following one of Adrian's incredible salads, I served Farfalle con Pesto Rosso, "Rosa" (a variation of Tra di Noi's ravioli in pink sauce) and Fettuccini con pignioli e burro. To finish the evening, I figured that one must follow this truckload of carbs with one thing: more carbs. Chocolate Molten Cake with raspberry sauce. And what a finale. But that is for later. Back to my pastas...

The farfalle con pesto rosso (bowties with pink pesto sauce) was my own variation of Matt and my favorite at Cafe Veloce in Kirkland, bowtie pasta in a creamy pesto sauce, with a large spoonful of marinara sauce waiting to surprise you at the bottom of the bowl. This dish is great because you can make the bowtie the night before, dress it in its cute creamy pesto sauce, and then put it in the fridge. The next day, assemble the bowl as per the directions and bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes, until warmed through and the cheese is melting.

Farfalle con Pesto Rosso

1 lb dried farfalle pasta
1 jar alfredo sauce
1/2 cup pesto
1/4 cup marinara
Freshly grated parmesan

Add pasta to boiling water, boil until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/4 cup cooking water. Toss pasta with pesto and alfredo sauce until thoroughly coated and sauces are mixed. Pour marinara into the bottom of an oven-safe bowl, add pesto farfalle, and top with as much parmesan as you would like. Be generous, the flavors mix beautifully. Place in 350 degree oven and bake until cheese is melting. Serve family style; at the table, stir from the bottom so that the marinara and pesto can mingle and voila! Pink pesto bowties. Serves 4 as main dish, 8-10 as appetizer or taster.