Friends that take a cookbook to bed and read it like it is a good novel warm my heart. Adrienne and I could chat recipes all day long. Another year of back to school and the obvious question, what will we make for dinner? She shared with me a couple of her faves, and now they are my faves. Enjoy!
Baked Ziti
8 oz. ziti pasta, cooked and drained
1/2 lb. ground beef
2 onions, diced
1/2 T. minced garlic
3 c. spaghetti sauce
2 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1 egg. lightly beaten
1/4 c. chopped parsley (or 1 T dry parsley)
1 t. garlic powder
1/2 T. Italian seasoning
1/2 c to 1 c mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pan with Pam. You may use one 9×13 or two 9×9 pans.
Saute onion in olive oil until clear, add garlic and cook for one minute. Add meat and Italian seasoning. Cook until meat is brown. Add sauce. Cook 2/3 minutes and set aside.
Combine in a large bowl-cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, and garlic powder. Add to ziti.
Spread enough meat sauce to make a thin layer on the bottom of the pan. Spread ziti mixture next, then meat sauce. Cover with foil . Bake 35 to 40 minutes until bubbly. Remove foil and add mozarella cheese and cook until cheese is melted.
Note: The healthier version is very good. Use whole wheat ziti pasta, ground turkey, fat free cottage cheese, reduced fat parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. I used only one onion and it was tasty.
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