Recipe- Most Delicious Home Baked Ziti

Baked pasta dishes are something special; they are in their own classification of comfort food, because they are just that dang good. Ziti has been a tradition since the Renaissance, served commonly at special gatherings, weddings, and celebrations. Also known as Ziti al Forno, this traditional oven-baked pasta is more of a method than an exact science. Depending on the region of Italy, it could be a veggie heavy meal, or it could be loaded in hearty meats and fat.

This classic Baked Ziti is all about the simple, whole ingredients. Ziti can be hard to find in stores, but there is something special about the history of Ziti pasta. Made from scratch meat sauce might seem tedious and unnecessary, but make no mistake, your time and effort will be worth it once you take that first bite. Go ahead and serve this up with some garlic bread, and you have yourself a feast!

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 white onion , diced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
5 cloves minced garlic
6 ounce can tomato paste
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound ziti pasta
8 ounces cream cheese , softened
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Method

* Pour olive oil into a large, deep skillet, over medium-high heat.

* Add in ground beef and brown, 5 minutes. Add in diced onions, and mushrooms (optional).

* Saute for 5 to 7 minutes until onions are soft and translucent, and ground beef is cooked through.

* Add in garlic and tomato paste and toast for 2 minutes. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce.

* Stir in basil, oregano, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until pasta is ready.

* Cook pasta in boiling water, according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

* Prepare the cheese topping in a small mixing bowl by combining cream cheese, ricotta, and parmesan. Mix together until smooth.

* Once the pasta is done, add it into the meat sauce and stir to combine. Pour it into a lightly greased 9×13 pan.

* Spread cheese mixture on top of the pasta.

* Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.