Baked Ziti
The Ugly Binder, from the internet
1 (16 oz.) pkg. ziti I used Smart Taste penne, which is only a 14.5 oz box
1 lb. ground beef
1 (15 oz.) container Ricotta cheese
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. chopped parsley
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 tsp. salt
1 (29 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
About 1 hour before serving, prepare ziti as label directs; drain. In an 8 quart Dutch oven, cook ground beef until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove Dutch oven from heat; stir in Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, 1/2 of spaghetti sauce, and seasonings (I added about half the mozzarella to the pasta and reserved half for the top). Stir until mixed. Add ziti and toss gently to coat well. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce evenly over mixture. Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Yield: 8 servings.
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I don't usually make recipes for my blog that I pull off the internet, unless it already had a place in my Ugly Binder. However, this recipe illustrates an important point. I decided I wanted to make baked ziti. I used to make it but I couldn't remember exactly how I did it so I went looking through my cookbooks to find a recipe. I found several meatless varieties but none with meat (except in a Sopranos cookbook, but that recipe sounded kind of blah and even looked dry in the picture). Which just proves that I need to keep buying more cookbooks, right? Good, I'm glad you agree with me. Okay, I clearly didn't really need a recipe for something this simple but there should have been one somewhere in my collection.
This would have been better served immediately but since I have such limited time, I made it the night before. It was okay reheated but I would make it fresh if at all possible. It's a relatively fast dish since that you can get on the table in under 45 minutes. Under 30 minutes if you have a commercial break (ever notice how much Rachael Ray gets done during her commercial breaks?)
Question of the Day: Do you have a long weekend coming up (Columbus Day)? I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to a long weekend.
6 comments:
Yes, I work for a small non-profit and we have federal holidays off! Yes!!! My daughter is going on a middle school trip to DC (we live in the Midwest), so I think I'll take my son to a movie and maybe some shopping. I am taking Tuesday off, too, and am going hiking with two of my friends at Starved Rock park. So I am really, really looking forward to the weekend! (Plus I will babysit my niece, bake a cake-thinking of choc apple sauce cake or choc zucchini cake, and do meal planning and grocery shopping for the next week)
Man, I wish!
Yep, and I'll be in Vegas celebrating my day off (not gambling but yes eating!)
I thought I was on the stock exchange schedule and didnt, until I was told I am on the fed reserve one and AM! I am SOOOOO excited!
yes! thanksgiving weekend for all us canadians!
My kids have Fall break next week...sleeping in for 5 days and making homemade lollipops for the first time.
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