Copycat Penne Rustica

What to fix with the watermelon I got today? I found a copycat recipe for Macaroni Grill's Penne Rustica at The Secret Recipe Blog. I changed some things around and came up with this.

Gratinata Sauce:
1 tsp butter
2 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 marsala wine
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 C half and half

Saute butter, garlic, and rosemary till garlic begins to brown. Add marsala and then reduce by a third. Add remaining ingreds and reduce by half of original volume. Set aside.

I didn't have penne-so I used BIG rigatoni.

I didn't have marsala-so I used Claret from a local winery.

Rustica:

1 oz pancetta or bacon (I had bacon)

18 shrimp peeled and deveined

6 oz grilled chicken breast, sliced (I couldn't wait for chicken to thaw so I just used shrimp)

Gratinata sauce (above)

Cooked pasta for 4

2 tsp pimientos (I didn't have)

4 oz butter

1 tsp chopped shallots

pinch salt and pepper

1 C parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp paprika

6 sprigs of rosemary

Saute pancetta till it begins to brown. Add butter, shallots, and shrimp. Cook till shrimp are evenly pink but still translucent. Don't overcook. Add chicken, salt/pepper and mix. Add gratinata sauce and 1/2C parmesan cheese--simmer till sauce thickens.

Combine shrimp mixture with precooked pasta in casserole. Top with remaining cheese and pimientos--sprinkle with paprika. Bake 475 degrees F for 10-15 min. Remove and garnish with fresh rosemary.

'Twer so good. Even with all my subs and omissions, I was the spotlight star at dinner tonight. Soren wants it for his birthday now.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (*****)

It tasted like the restaurant. Period.