Baked Ziti

Ingredients:

• 1 LB Italian sausage
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• ½ cup of water
• 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
• 10 oz Tomato Sauce/Passata
• 3-4 Basil Leaves, chopped finely
• 1 TBLS Salt
• 1 lb Arrezzio® Classic Italian Ziti – SUPC: 5204579
• 1 egg
• ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded & divided
• ¼ cup Parmesan, grated & divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F
2. Brown the Italian Sausage and onions together; breaking up the pieces as you go. Drain the fat.
3. Add in the garlic, Italian seasoning, water, and red pepper flakes. Then mix in the Crushed Tomatoes, Tomato sauce & chopped basil. Simmer 10-15 minutes or until thickened.
4. Bring 5 quarts water to a boil; add 1 TBLS of salt and the ziti pasta. Cook until 2 minutes SHORT of al dente; approximately 6 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water & drain (never rinse). Add ALL but 2 TBLS of the reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce.
5. In a large bowl whisk an egg with the remaining pasta cooking water (2 TBLS). Mix in the ricotta, parsley, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and 2 TBLS the grated Parmesan cheese.  Add half the Pasta sauce and combine. Stir in the cooked Ziti.
6. Place the sauced Ziti in the bottom of a greased baking dish and top with the remaining sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
7. Bake 25 minutes, until golden bubbly. Garnish with chopped parsley (or basil).