Recipe(tried): Ziti Carbonara for a Crowd

Hi, This feeds a crowd and is better than any catering dish. It can be frozen far ahead. Try it, its great.

ZITI CARBONARA

This makes one of those large aluminum pans full. Excellent side dish.

1 pkg frozen or fresh broccoli crowns
2 boxes ziti (I use Barilla pasta)
1 pound bacon, each slice cut crosswise in thirds
2 onions, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
cooked boneless chicken (optional, if you want to be more impressive)
1 quart of half and half
2 cups grated cheese, divided use
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Put water for pasta on to boil; add the broccoli. When the water boils add pasta when the pasta is done the broccoli is done too. (If you don't want the broccoli to be soft, blanch the broccoli in the boiling water and remove before adding the pasta to the pot.)

Meanwhile fry bacon. When done throw in big aluminum pan.

In the bacon fat (which adds flavor), fry onion and garlic. When translucent put in pan with the bacon.

If you are adding chicken you can cut it up in one inch pieces and fry it in the same pan as you fried the bacon and onions and add it to the rest in the aluminum pan.

In a saucepan put the half and half and cheese. When it is heated through, add the butter; stir to melt. Pour this in the aluminum pan with the bacon mixture.

When the pasta is done, drain and add to the pan and stir all ingredients together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

The whole process takes 1 hour. It's fantastic. If you have any questions let me know and I'll walk you through.

If you freeze it ahead, reheat in oven at 350 degrees F for half hour, until heated through, adding 2 cups of milk to reconstitute.