Baked Ziti

My favorite favorite favorite dish is baked ziti.  It could be the fact I'm half Italian, or the fact I just love pasta, but ever since I was little, baked ziti was it for me.  My Aunt Marie makes a great version, and whenever she does make it, I steal and take home all the leftovers.  Enjoy!


Ingredients:


1 package of ziti
1 small container of Ricotta cheese (I use part skim)
1/2 bag of shredded mozzarella
1 jar of pasta sauce (Newman's Own Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce works real well)
1 ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced into thin pieces
Garlic Powder
2 quart casserole dish


Directions:


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.


Boil pasta according to directions on box, to just about al dente.  Drain, and pour into a large mixing bowl


Add ricotta, and about 1/4 of the jar of pasta sauce.  Sprinkle Garlic powder on top to liking.  Mix well.


Grease casserole dish (I use simple Pam).  Spread a small layer of pasta sauce on bottom of dish.

Spread half of the pasta/ricotta/sauce mixture flat in the dish.  Pour half of the remaining pasta sauce on top and evenly spread.  Layer with shredded mozzarella cheese. 


Repeat this step again, so that there are now two layers of the pasta mixture, sauce, and mozzarella cheese.  


Add the fresh mozzarella slices on top of the shredded mozzarella.


Bake in oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top starts to turn golden brown.  Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

So good.