Recipe Station

The following Baked Ziti serves six to eight people. Make certain you let it sit and cool for at least five to seven minutes before serving.

The ingredients are as follows:

• 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded-diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 cups homemade or store bought marinara
• 1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 parmesan, grated
• Salt-pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350°F.

1. Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Add small handful salt and pasta to water. Stir. Boil pasta 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente. Drain, toss with teaspoon of oil, pour into a large mixing bowl.

2. One tablespoon olive oil into large sauté pan. Place over medium-high heat. Add sausage; break apart with spoon. Cook sausage 5 minutes until evenly browned. Drain. Add to pasta.

3. Discard grease, add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, bell peppers, garlic to pan. Sauté 3-4 minutes. Season: salt-pepper. Pour onion mixture over sausage-pasta mixture. Toss together.

4. Add marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan. Gently fold together until fully incorporated. Season.

5. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 8”x 8” baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.

The above will bake for about twenty five minutes, until the cheese turns a golden brown and bubbles!

Serve this with a small lovely green salad, perhaps a glass of red wine and a fine dessert of your choosing … Well , let’s just say if you are cooking for the man or woman in your life they will be incredibly impressed!

Article Source: SpoonForkBacon