Baked Ziti Recipe

Directions:

1. Begin by preparing sauce as follows: In a large dutch oven, saute onions and garlic in olive oil 1 or 2 minutes.
2. Empty all four cans of crushed tomatoes into pot.
3. Add basil, oregano, salt, crushed red pepper and brown sugar.
4. Stir, bring to a boil and let simmer about 20 minutes.
5. Stir sauce (this is when I usually will taste adjust any ingredients such as brown sugar and salt).
6. Add meatballs that have just been browned and uncooked itailian sausage.
7. Cover and simmer sauce for about 1 1/2- 2 hrs.
8. About 10 minutes before sauce is done, mix ricotta cheese, eggs and parmesan cheese in a large bowl.
9. Add about 2 1/2 cups of sauce to the cheese mixture and mix well.
10. (Keep remaining sauce with meatballs and sausage warm).
11. Toss cooked ziti with cheese/sauce mixture and spoon into a 9x13 inch baking pan.
12. (you may need a larger pan or more than 1 pan).
13. Sprinkle pasta with mozzarella cheese.
14. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hr.
15. Serve pasta with the extra sauce, meatballs and sausage ladled over top of each serving.