Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

This was soooo good and healthy. It is from Everyday Italian on food network.



● 2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
● 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
● 2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
● 4 cremini mushrooms, halved (I would have liked more mushrooms)
● 1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
● 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
● 1 tsp. salt, divided
● 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
● 1 tbsp. dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
● 1 lb. penne pasta (I used whole wheat)
● 3 cups marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
● 1 cup grated fontina cheese (expensive, but so worth it)
● 1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
● 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
● 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
● 2 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.

In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.