Hope you all enjoy this as we do!


EASY ZITI (6 Servings-Makes A LOT)

1 16oz. jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce(anything with basil and/or garlic in it is even better)
1/2 cup PART-SKIM ricotta cheese
1/2 of an onion, chopped
11/2 lbs. LEAN ground chuck or (on sale, ground round is better)
1 1lb. pkg.of ziti pasta
1/2 cup shredded REDUCED-FAT Italian cheese blend-the 5 blend kind made by Kraft for example
Garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste,dried basil to taste
1 small (8oz.) can of tomato sauce

1. Cook ground meat in large skillet until ALMOST browned. Add chopped onion to meat and cook until meat and onion are cooked. Stir often while cooking. Drain any excess grease from mixture.
2. Season meat mixture with seasonings;stir.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. While meat is cooking, boil ziti as directed on pkg. When cooked, drain thoroughly.
5. Add tomato sauce to meat mixture;stir. Check for seasonings. Simmer mixture for about 10- 15 minutes.
6. Spray NONSTICK cooking spray like Pam,etc. around sides and bottom of glass baking dish(9"X13"). Pour meat mixture into dish. Add ricotta cheese and stir until smooth and cheese is blended well with meat sauce. Add ziti and stir until well distributed and coated with sauce.
7. Sprinkle the shredded cheese blend over top of mixture. Bake until cheese is melted;about 10 minutes. ENJOY!!!
The reduced fat stuff in recipe does NOT alter the taste whatsoever. I PROMISE!

Thanx!