Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Easy Baked Ziti

This is so easy and is one of my go to dishes. I always have one of these hanging out in the freezer for days when i don't feel like cooking.
You will need a 9 1/2" W X 18" L X 2 to 3" D, Glass Baking dish.

1 Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (homemade preferred)
4 Italian sausages (Remove casing)
1 Box of Ziti Pasta or Mostaccioli (your favorite brand)
12 Oz. Ricotta Whole Milk Cheese
1 Large Bag Shredded whole milk Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese grated (not the stuff in the green can)

Ladle a small amount of sauce into baking dish and coat the bottom and sides
Fry sausage in a frying pan break it apart to look like hamburger meat. Then drain on a paper towel
Bring water to a Boil adding kosher salt 2 table spoons and olive oil a nice drizzle
Add pasta to boiling water following box directions
Drain Pasta then return it to hot pot.
Add 1 cup of sauce
Add the drained sausage
Add the 12 oz. of ricotta cheese
Combine slowly using a wooden spoon until well mixed
Place the mixture into the sauced baking dish
Pressing it evenly into dish
Grate the 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese over the top of mixture evenly
Top with handfuls of the shredded mozzarella cheese covering the top evenly

Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese on top is completely melted and the edges are turning slightly brown about 25 to 30 minutes.

When I prepare this to freeze it. I don't cook it until I am going to serve it. I cover it with 2 layers of tin foil and after it is cool enough place it in the freezer. It will keep nicely for up to four weeks. Then just thaw and bake.

Mangi!

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