Kitchen Basics: Mama’s Baked Ziti
- 1 pound ziti or penne (or any shape pasta you like)
- 16 oz. whole milk Ricotta cheese
- 3 cups Mozzerella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano leaves
- 1 egg
- 32 ounces of your favorite pasta sauce or tomato gravy
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Prepare pasta according to package directions, minus 2 minutes. We want it to be almost completely cooked.
- In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, 2 1/2 cups of the mozzarella, and almost all of the Parmesan (reserve some for topping).
- Add spices and your egg. Blend well.
- Add your cooked pasta and 1 1/2 cups of your sauce to the cheeses. Blend well.
- Prepare your casserole dish by putting 1/4 cup of your sauce on the bottom.
- Pour the cheesy pasta on top of the sauce.
- Top with 1/4 cup of sauce, the reserved Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and a sprinkle of garlic powder and oregano.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.