Baked Ziti

This is a favorite recipe served on those days when only Italian will do. It takes a little time, but you'll be rewarded with excellent flavors and rave reviews. Feel free to use whole wheat ziti or penne noodles. The sauce is important so make sure you use a good one, one that you know and like.

1 pound dry ziti pasta

1 sweet onion, chopped

1 pound lean ground beef

2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce

6 slices smoked provolone cheese

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Grated Parmesan cheese, to taste

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook about eight minutes, until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, saute onion and brown ground beef over medium heat. Cook beef thoroughly. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using cooking spray, cover a 9x13 baking dish. 

Layer as follows:

• 1/2 of the ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture 
• Provolone cheese
• Sour Cream
• 1/2 sauce mixture
• Remaining ziti
• Mozzarella cheese
• Remaining Sauce
• Top well with Parmesan cheese

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Serve with Salad and Garlic Bread.

There are several steps here but if you time everything right, it'll take you 2 hours to make this. So this may be a weekend idea but well worth it.

Enjoy!

Blessings!