Mar. 30, 2009 - A meal to share
I love to bless families with food. Here is one of my favorite recipes to take to families who just had a baby or surgery or whatever else...
Baked Ziti
1 (16 oz.) package penne pasta cooked
2 lbs. ground beef
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten
4 cups marinara sauce (purchased or homemade)
15 ounce container of ricotta cheese
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Heat olive oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef,
garlic powder, Italian seasonings salt and pepper. Cook until browned and.
drain. Add marinara sauce to meat and simmer for 15 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix ricotta, shredded mozzarella, egg, and pepper. Add
cooked pasta and stir.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Begin layering
your ingredients in a lightly-greased 9x13” baking dish starting with a thin
layer of meat-sauce mixture in the bottom of pan, then a layer of cheese and
noodle mixture, then another thin layer of meat sauce and another layer of
cheese and noodle. Repeat as necessary, ending with meat sauce on top. Top with
mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until the ziti is heated through and the cheeses
are melted.
I use a disposable aluminum pan so the family doesn't need to worry about trying to get a pan back to me, and I also try and add some homemade breadsticks, and a salad and ALWAYS bring dessert!
Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks:
1-1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cups of flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons crushed dried oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
I toss it all in the bread machine to be kneaded and for the first rise, then I pull out the dough and form it into breadsticks. I generously brush butter over the top, and twist in a string of mozzarella cheese (about 1/3 a string cheese stick) then I sprinkle the top with garlic powder. Let rise again until doubled and then I bake at 350 until cooked through and starting to brown.
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