Quick and Easy Baked Ziti

Pasta and sauce was a staple in my childhood. Probably because there were four of us kids and then my Mom and Step-Dad.  One of my favorite things that my mother would make was baked ziti. She would make it with home made grape sized meatballs and of course with home made sauce. Well Mom, I'm sorry but tonight I'm cutting corners.  Hopefully she never sees this. She is all about home made sauce and never using bottled, but last night I just needed to make a quick dinner and have it on the table in an hour.

This version is still VERY good. (At least that's what the Husband and child say). With this meal you can have it done in under and hour, and it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen! This make a TON! This best part about this dish is that you can make it before hand and refrigerate until you you throw it in the oven. Or you can freeze it!

Here is what you need:

• 1 cup Ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese (More or less depending on your cheesy preference. 
• 1 (normal) bottle of pasta sauce (The husband bought the wrong size. No more grocery shopping for him!I used about half of the giant bottle)
• 1 box ziti
• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

 How to become a praised chef:

• Start out by getting a pot of salted water on the stove top ready to boil. When water starts to boil throw your ziti in and cook according to directions on the box. Make sure you drain the pasta well!
• Preheat your over to 350 degrees 
• Melt butter into a skillet and throw garlic to mingle with the butter for about a minute or two.
• Toss in the ground beef and cook until nice and browned. Drain the grease from the beef.
• In a large bowl toss sauce, half of the Parmesan cheese, half of the mozzarella, ricotta cheese, cooked ground beef, and cooked noodles. Mix until everything is combined.
• Place your ziti mixture into a large baking pan.
• Throw ziti into the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Take your pan of awesomeness out of the over and make it even more awesome by sprinkling the rest of the Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese on the top. Add more if you want things extra cheesy!
• Place in oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned. (I would have left mine in longer but the Husband was getting extremely hungry. Like chew on a table hungry)

Hope you enjoy!