Baked Ziti
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner, Italian, Pasta
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • 16 oz. box ziti
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1½ jars Flora tomato sauce (36 oz)
  • 2 tsp italian seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp oregano
  • 2 tsp basil
  • 1½ tsp sage
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp pecorino romano cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 pound mozzarella (shredded), for melting on dish while baking
Instructions
  1. In a large pot, brown ground beef. While browning sprinkle beef liberally with sea salt, pepper, oregano and basil.
  2. After meat is browned, add Flora tomato sauce, all seasonings, sugar and parmesan and romano cheese. Don't pour off grease. Turn to low and simmer 1-2 hours.
  3. minutes before ready to eat, bring pot of water to boil for pasta. Add Tbsp salt and a dash of olive oil. Cook pasta al dente about 9 minutes.
  4. While cooking pasta, preheat oven to 425.
  5. In a large 10 x 15 casserole dish, add in cooked pasta and all of the meat sauce. Grate a bit of extra parmesan and romano cheese in for good measure. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  6. Cover with foil (tented), and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. For a 5 oz serving: 238 calories, 8 grams fat, 22 grams carbs, 6 grams sugar, and 19 grams protein
Recipe by Creative Kitchen at http://creativekitchenadventures.com/2012/09/27/baked-ziti-not-quite-fall-ye/