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Baked Ziti

 

Baked ziti is a popular baked Italian casserole dish made with ziti macaroni and sauce. In many recipes, the ziti is first cooked separately while a tomato and cheese sauce is prepared, which may include meat, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and more. The cooked and drained ziti is then combined with the cooked sauce, which may be layered with additional varieties of cheeses, baked in the oven, and served hot. (Wikipedia)


Ingredients:

1 pound Italian sausage, sweet, hot or mixed;
1 pound Ziti or Penne (Penne is better because when you bake it the tips will crisp up).
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
A good olive oil
Handful of soaked sun dried tomatoes
2-3 cloves of fresh chopped garlic
1-2 quarts of your own Marinara Sauce
Small handful of chopped fresh flat parsley and basil
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

In a sauté pan on medium / high heat, add a little olive oil and the sausage and brown until cooked to medium, don't over cook. Remove the pan from the burner and slice the sausage about a 1/4 inch diagonally in a dish that will catch the juices. Return the sausage and juices to the pan on medium heat, add the sun dried tomatoes and the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds then add the parsley, basil and the marinara sauce, bring to simmer and set aside but keep warm.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to instructions. DO NOT over cook. Strain but do not rinse.

Bring the sauce back to a simmer, add a small handful of grated cheese, a large handful of mozzarella and the pasta. Mix very well, toss in a lasagna pan, add a little more of the mozzarella on top (but don't smother it) and place under the broiler or a very hot oven.

Bake or broil the pasta until the cheese melts and the pasta tip's start to brown. Serve hot and immediately.



 

Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:
1 C chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T olive oil
1/4 t dried basil, crushed
1/4 t dried oregano, crushed
3 (14oz) cans whole tomatoes,
drained and crushed
Salt, pepper

Directions:
To make sauce, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Stir in basil and oregano. Add tomatoes and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Puree sauce in blender or food processor.
 

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