Baked Ziti

(Serves 8)

Baked ziti is a quick and easy dish to make for a weeknight dinner but it is also a versatile dish
that can be included in a buffet for a special occasion. Baked ziti can be a stand-alone main
course accompanied only with a nice leafy-green salad or it can be a side dish to a meat or
poultry entree. You can assemble the dish early in the day or even a day before you plan to
serve it. Keep it refrigerated and, since it will be chilled, bake it for a little longer time than the
recipe states or until it is brown and bubbly. Baked ziti is a wonderful vegetarian dish but you
can also add cooked ground beef or sausage to the sauce, if you desire.

Ingredients:

1 pound ziti, mostaccioli, or penne
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Salt and pepper
4 cups Traditional Tomato Sauce or your favorite jarred sauce

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cook the pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.

In a bowl combine the ricotta, eggs, 1 cup Parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella.
Season the mixture with salt and pepper; stir to combine.

Spread 1-1/2 cups of the sauce in the bottom of an 11 x 14-inch baking dish.
Add the cooked pasta evenly over the sauce.
Spread the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta.
Top with the remaining tomato sauce.
Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.