Baked Pasta Dinner

Had the best dinner last night, as I pat myself on the back!  It turned out better than I thought it would - don't you just love it, particularly when you have to improvise!!  This is another one of those recipes from the "famous" internet file folder.  It is called Baked Zita.  Well, I didn't have any zita pasta and really didn't feel like running up to the grocery store just to buy a box of pasta.  Then I noticed I didn't have any ricotta cheese either.  OK, I am being really lazy today and I am not in the mood for grocery stores either.  So what to do . . .  

I got out my handy-dandy pasta maker and food processor and made a batch of egg noodles (so easy - 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour, 3 eggs, 1 T olive oil, 1 T water, a dash of salt - throw in a food processor and whirl away!!).  If you don't have a pasta maker, you can use a pizza wheel cutter and a ruler - little more time consuming, but works just the same.

For the ricotta cheese, I just made my own using my goat's milk.  This only works if you have access to WHOLE milk - the pasteurized milk in the stores won't work. 

As you can see, we ate pretty much of it!! It was really good.  It is sort of a lasagna casserole!  I did improvise and added ground beef and onions to the spaghetti sauce.

Baked Zita (or Baked Pasta in my case)

16 oz. zita pasta (any type pasta will work)
1 large egg
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 cup chopped basil (optional)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce (see note about ground beef)
grated parmesan cheese

OPTIONAL
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Prepare pasta according to directions on box.  Drain
In a large bowl, beat egg.  Add ricotta cheese, garlic powder, basil and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.  Mix well.
** Brown ground beef and onions.  Add to spaghetti sauce (optional)
Add cooked pasta and 2 cups of spaghetti sauce to cheese mixture.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti sauce in 9 x 13 pan.
Put the ziti/cheese mixture into the pan.  Top with any remaining sauce.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzeralla cheese and parmesan cheese.
Cover with aluminium foil.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until it is bubbly and golden!

Add a salad and some french or italian bread  - your family will be applauding you (well , maybe not!), but at least, they will be eating good!

Enjoy!!