Recipe: Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti
rec.food.recipes/Luckytrim (2002)
Makes about 8 servings

6 cups (1 lb.) cut ziti
1 chopped onion
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 (28 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
2 cup (16 oz.) Ricotta cheese
2 cup (8 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook cut ziti according to package directions for 10 minutes; drain.

Brown beef and onion; drain. Add basil and garlic, set aside. Heat tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes, season with oregano and garlic powder to taste. Add meat to sauce. (Easy way to make sauce is to buy 32 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce.) In a large bowl, mix together Ricotta cheese, Mozzarella cheese, parsley, egg, oregano, garlic powder and pepper. Pour some spaghetti sauce, about 1 1/2 cups, into cheese mixture until it turns pink. Add ziti and stir until all ziti is coated. In large roasting pan or 9 x 13 inch pan pour 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce; spread ziti mixture evenly over sauce. Top with remaining sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, covered, at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.