Baked Ziti

3 cups ziti pasta, uncooked
3/4 pound ground beef or sausage
3 cups spaghetti sauce, about 28 oz. jar
1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese, 15 oz
2 cups shredded lowfat mozzarella cheese, 8 oz
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions for 8 minutes; drain. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown meat until throroughly cooked; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce; simmer 10 minnutes. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and seasonings; set aside. Toss hot pasta with meat sauce in 13x9x2 inch baking dish, spoon one half of pasta mixture, spead cheese mixture onver top. Layer with remaining pasta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with foil, bake 25 minutes. Remove foil bake 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Note: Instead of the jar of spaghetti sauce I use leftover homemade spaghetti sauce.


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