Annas Fake Baked Ziti Recipes

BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
• Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
• Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

SCUDERI KIDS' FAST, FAKE-BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Put pasta water on to boil.
• In a medium sauce pot over medium heat, saute garlic in extra-virgin olive oil. Chop whole tomatoes and add them to the pan. Add crushed tomatoes and salt and simmer 10 minutes, add basil and simmer over low heat 10 minutes more.
• Add salt and pasta to boiling water and cook 6 minutes, leaving pasta a little chewy.
• While pasta cooks, melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then cook 1 minute, adding salt and pepper and nutmeg to flour. Add milk and bring sauce to a bubble. Reduce 5 minutes.
• Drain pasta and transfer to a large flameproof casserole dish. Pour the tomato and basil sauce over the pasta and turn to coat the pasta. Pour the bechamel over the already coated pasta. Cover the top of the pasta with Asiago, Parmesan and mozzarella. Place the casserole under hot broiler and melt the 3 cheeses until brown and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately with Spinach and Artichoke Salad and bread.
• 3/4 pound, 4 to 5 cups, baby spinach, packed
• 2 (15-ounce) cans artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and sliced
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• A handful shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Combine spinach and artichokes. Place garlic, lemon zest and juice in small dish and add vinegar. Let it stand 5 minutes then whisk in extra-virgin olive oil. Pour oil and vinegar dressing over salad and toss to combine. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to your taste. Top the salad with cheese then serve.

FAKE-BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Put pasta water on to boil. Add salt and pasta to boiling water and
• cook until pasta is "Al Dente" (a little chewy). While pasta cooks,
• melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then cook 1
• minute, adding salt, pepper and nutmeg to flour. Add milk and bring
• sauce to a bubble. Reduce for 5 minutes. Turn on low heat and add shredded
• cheeses to sauce and stir until cheese is melted.
• 2. Drain pasta and transfer to a large casserole dish. Pour tomato
• sauce over pasta and toss until pasta is evenly coated. Pour cheese sauce
• over pasta. Cover the top with sliced fresh mozzarella. Place dish under
• broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

ANNA'S FAKE BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a seperate pot, cook ground beef. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, Montreal Chicken seasoning, and adobo. When meat is cooked, add spaghetti sauce. Add sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian Seasoning- mix well, and bring to a boil. Combine sauce with cooked and drained pasta.
• In a small pot, combine milk, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper- bring to a boil. Add parmesan cheese and mozzarella- bring to a boil once again. If sauce needs to be thickened, combine flour in a small amount of cold milk and add to sauce. Bring to a boil again until it is thickened.
• Pour pasta and meat sauce mixture into a lightly greased 9x13" pan. Pour cream sauce over top of pasta, and sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake until everything is hot and bubbling. Serve with extra cream sauce or garlic bread if desired.