They also say food is the way to heart and soul. So after a few years of people telling me how much they love my baked ziti. I have decided to write down the recipe for those of you who feel inspired to try it out yourself.
Now you can make this meal for however many you want, but I like to make a large dish for about 8 people. (Makes for good leftovers) This dinner is served with Caesar salad can be made for under $30 I shop at my local Kroger, here you can find most of these items below on sale.
Things you need:
Caesar Salad
Fresh romaine lettuce
1 bag Seasoned herb croutons
1 container of Shaved Parmesan cheese
Girard's Caesar dressing
large bowl
Baked Ziti
2 jars of traditional spaghetti sauce
1 box of Penne pasta
1 bag of finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bag of finely shredded monterey jack cheese
1lb of ground turkey or beef ( I prefer turkey because its less greasy)
Deli precooked cooked garlic bread (or bread of your choice)
water
large casserole dish
large skillet
large pot
Step 1:
Put ground meat in skillet to cook thoroughly.
Step 2:
In a large pot a water, bring to a boil, add 1 box of pasta
Step 3:
While steps 1 & 2 are on the stove, preheat oven at 350 degrees
And prep salad below:
Wash lettuce, chop into smaller pieces in a large bowl.
Then add croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese (use at your discretion).
Put large bowl back in refrigerator.
Step 4:
Drain grease from meat and drain water from pasta.
Step 5:
In a large casserole dish, you will then begin to layer ingredients. (spread ALL layers EVENLY)
on the bottom, layer half of the cooked pasta
then 1 jar of uncooked spaghetti sauce
then 1 lb of cooked ground turkey/beef
then 1 bag of of monterey jack cheese
then layer the rest of the cooked pasta
then HALF of the 2nd jar of spaghetti sauce
then 1 bag of mozzarella cheese on top
Step :6
Once all layers are complete, Put Dish in oven on middle rack to cook for about 15 mins (or until you can see the sauce boiling and the cheese on top is melted)
Step 7:
Pull Caesar Salad out of the refrigerator and serve with salad dressing.
Step 8:
Once finished with salad -
Check on the Baked Ziti, if cheese is melted on top, move dish to top rack.
(I usually have precooked garlic bread that just needs to be warmed, so I insert that on the middle rack, just make sure the bread is under the Baked Ziti dish or you could burn your bread)
IMPORTANT :
(CHANGE oven setting to BROIL on LO) This is how you toast the cheese on top. Should only take a few mins.
Once its slightly toasted or brown on top, then you can pull out bread and dish.
Let cool for a few mins, then serve with your favorite Red wine!!!
Hope you enjoy!! This is one of my faves!
.:XOXO TMARIE:.
