I am long over-due for posting a recipe for you. This is a recipe for Baked Ziti that I have made countless times over the years and I know you will love. Whenever a girlfriend is having a baby- this is the meal that gets made. It's increadibly easy and relatively quick to make. I originally found this recipe on the side of a cottage cheese container (can you believe it?) I normally double the recipe below and put it in a 13x9 inch pan. Also, this recipe freezes great. Just make it as called for and put in the freezer instead of the oven. This recipe has changed a bit over the years, but I think you'll really like it. Let me know how it turns out if you decide to make it~
Baked Ziti
8 oz Ziti
1/2 lb extra lean ground turkey or beef (optional)
2 onions, chopped
1/2 Tbsp. garlic, diced
3 cups Spaghetti Sauce
2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2-1 Cup mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 qt baking dish (9x9 pan) with non-stick cooking spray. Cook ziti according to package directions and set aside. In a medium sautee pan on medium heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add meat and italian seasoning and cook until cooked throughout. Add spaghetti sauce to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley & garlic powder. Mix thoroughly. Add Ziti to cottage cheese mixture. Spread 1/3 of meat mixture on the bottom of the pan. Spoon Ziti mixture into the pan and add remaining sauce to the top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and add the cheese & cook another 4-5 minutes (with no foil), just long enough to melt the cheese. Enjoy!!
*The great thing about this recipe is that you can make a healthier version by using whole wheat pasta, non-fat cottage cheese, omitting the meat (I've made it this way and it's just as good) and getting a low-calorie cheese. Either way- both are delicious!
I have this picture of Henry on my desktop and love being able to look at it everyday. We took this picture when we were in Boston. It was taken out on Route 2 near Concord. It's a farm that we used to go to when we lived there. They have the most amazing selection of pumpkins, gourds, indian corn- you name it. You can pay .25 cents to get fish food and feed the little fish in a pond nearby. I love all these things about Fall... harvests, cornucopias, indian corn, corn husks... although I do have to admit this to you... I listened to some Christmas music today. Egads! It was a bit strange. Especially because it's been soo hot here. It was 90 degrees on Tuesday and so Henry & I biked over to the pool and had ourselves a swim. It doesn't feel like Christmas when it's this hot.. probably because it's not Christmas. It's not even Thanksgiving yet and I am getting way ahead of myself here. I am excited for Thanksgiving. We have some family that are driving down to see us this year (Thank you!) and we are looking forward to being able to stay home for this holiday. I love that even though Halloween is over, there is still an excuse to keep the pumpkins out. And who can beat the Macy's day parade? (Chris...he can beat it. He's not much of a parade man). I'm still kicking myself for all those years that we lived in Boston and never went down to NYC for Thanksgiving to see the parade. Oh well- luckily for me, I can just watch it from the comfort of my own home. Goodness- I've just realized Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks from today! Must start working on the menu! Have a wonderful weekend! Now go make yourself some pasta and snuggle up to a good movie this weekend! xoxo~
