Baked Ziti #OneMoreBite

If it's one thing that they love around here, it is spaghetti. They will eat it each night if it was a choice. It's quick and easy and always have leftovers. Just like anything else in life, too much is never a good thing. I'm sick of spaghetti. At this point, I have made it so much, that I can do this in my sleep. Would be cheaper and better for my life if I was to just book them a trip to Italy.

So how about the choice between the two. Baked Ziti. Basically the same thing with a different name.


Ingredients:

1/2 pound ground Beef or Turkey
1/2 pound ground Italian Sausage
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
24 ounces of your favorite Italian Pasta Sauce
2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Basil
1 teaspoon dried Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper, Crushed
3 cups uncooked ziti
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the ground beef or turkey and Italian sausage to a large skillet (make sure that the skillet has a good fitting lid). Brown the meat, breaking up into smaller bits, over medium heat. Drain any excess fat after the meat is cooked through. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the Italian pasta sauce, water, basil, oregano, and red pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then add the uncooked pasta. Stir well. Cover the skillet with a lid, and reduce the heat to low. Cook the mixture at a slow simmer for about 15-20 minutes (stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn't stick), or until the pasta is tender.

Remove the skillet from the sit, set aside the lid, and stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and all of the parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella over the top of the pasta. Place in the preheated 350 degrees F oven and cook until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes.

Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.