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Post by finallyawake on Jun 17, 2011 18:42:49 GMT -5
I am Italian and this recipe is one of our long time family recipes....it makes a ton of Ziti and it's the absolute best I've ever had. Since we are empty nesters....I make it for family get togethers and there's never any left over. When we want it and there isn't a gathering planned...I make it up and freeze it in 2 serving batches with my Seal-A-Meal......it's easy to serve and thaw when frozen this way......
BAKED ZITI
1 pound ziti pasta 1 pound of lean ground beef 1 pound of Italian sausage 1 onion chopped 2 jars of spaghetti sauce (or the equivalent of your own homemade sauce) 1 1/2 cups sour cream 6 oz provolone cheese slices (can use a little more) 8 oz of shredded mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese
Cook noodles for 8 minutes or al dente. butter the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan ( I use a 10 X 14 and it is stuffed full).
Cook meat and onion over medium heat until brown. Drain meat. Add spaghetti sauce to meat and simmer for 15 minutes (I add some garlic too). Heat oven to 350. Layer 1/2 of the pasta in the pan. Then add 1/2 of the meat sauce. cover with the provolone slices and then the sour cream. Add the rest of the pasta, add the mozzarella cheese and then add the rest of the meat sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese. Cover and cook for 35 minutes or until bubbly.
If you make ahead and refrigerate you need to cook for at least 70 minutes.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 17, 2011 20:10:08 GMT -5
I'm not Italian, but grew up in NYC. Because I was so scrawny a lady in the apartment building where I live was always giving me homemade pasta, lasagna, and other good stuff. It couldn't compare to anything in even a NYC restaurant, so I learned to become a really good Italian cook. I've never heard of sour cream in a baked ziti recipe; I usually use ricotta. I'll have to give it a try! I'm also liking this four Italian cheese mix I get at Aldi's - parmesan, romano, asiago, and one I'm too lazy to go and look up the name of. I like to use that wherever I'd normally use parmesan. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by wateredseeds on Jun 20, 2011 15:52:33 GMT -5
You guys are making me hungry. My wife and I don't get to cook a lot, cause we both work. And to be honest, we aren't the best cooks.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 20, 2011 17:03:46 GMT -5
Too bad you don't live near me - I love to cook (and bake) and am always looking for someone to cook for! ;D
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sasha2u
New Kid on the Block
Posts: 22
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Post by sasha2u on Jun 26, 2011 11:17:44 GMT -5
Arlene, I am the exact same way....I LOVE to cook/bake for folks and I want to THANK YOU for that Whoopie Pie thread......AWESOME!!!! I make them too....and am making some for the 4th! Diet be dmaned, I say!
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Post by wateredseeds on Jul 9, 2011 13:33:09 GMT -5
arlene,
If i lived close to you....my wife would think i was cheating on her. I'm definitely a man that loves food. I'm especially fond of my mom and grandma's food. Mom's spaghetti and meatballs....mmmmm. I'm very picky though...so you might not enjoy cooking for me. I can't do onions or celery because of texture issues, and i don't too much like peppers or mushrooms. Everything else is okay though.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 9, 2011 15:22:36 GMT -5
I don't care for mushrooms either, and don't use them in my cooking; I do use celery in cooking, but don't like it raw. I wish all you guys lived closer; I'd be having dinner parties all the time! ;D Oh well, soon.... I used to send my late husband to work with a three course meal every day; he was the envy of all his co-workers. What drove me absolutely nuts, though, was that man had the culinary sophistication of an 8 year old - he'd only eat stuff like spaghetti, pizza, hot dogs, burgers, fried chicken, meat loaf, chili.....that's torture for someone who's a chef, making the same boring things all the time! As much as he loved pizza and pasta, he wouldn't even try my lasagna! I know the Lord has "Mr. Right" waiting for me somewhere...and he'll be willing to try anything I make!
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Post by wateredseeds on Jul 9, 2011 15:40:29 GMT -5
lasagna rocks when there's no onions in it Arlene, i love food. I'd eat just about anything...but i've got those texture issues. I like all of those things your husband liked to though. In fact, since i don't have much time to cook......and my wife has even less time, that's usually what i end up with.
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