Baked Ziti

This is a favorite, one-pan meal that can be made ahead of time and placed in the oven about 30 minutes before you need it on the table for dinner. It is easy to make and most of the items are usually on hand. Make a big salad to go along side of it and it will look like you spent hours planning this meal.

Baked Ziti 1 28 ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce 16 ounces Ziti (This merely refers to the name of the shape of the pasta. Any type is acceptable.) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese ½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese 1 good pinch of dried chili flakes ½ cup red wine Start a large pot of water boiling for the pasta. Meantime, saute the onions and garlic in a frying pan until limp and tender. Add the sauce. Rinse the jar out with the wine and add to the mixture. Stir in the chili flakes. Remove from heat and set aside for the moment. Cook the pasta until just cooked yet slightly underdone. The oven baking will complete that. Drain the pasta and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the sauce mixture and thoroughly combine. Toss with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Place in a large, greased baking pan. Top with the Parmesan or Romano cheese and cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly and hot through, about 30 minutes. Let set five minutes before serving. It is so hearty, you might forget that there isn’t any meat in it. You can, however, add some browned ground beef or sausage if time, circumstances and the budget permit.