Baked Ziti - You Can Cook Pasta and Eat it Too!!

Before we get started, I must give credit where it is due for this delicious dish.  Miss Carmen of This is My Fibro, created this recipe for me about three years ago and it has been my all-time favorite ever since!! It is filling, delish and quite frankly, one of my comfort foods.  I mean, take a look the finished product...aren't you comforted just looking at it??

Anyhoo, here's what you need to do to create your own fabulous Baked Ziti.  And you thought you'd never get to eat Italian food again :)

Baked Ziti

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 2 jars spaghetti sauce (make sure you purchase a brand with as little sugar added as possible)
• 2 boxes rice penne pasta
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

First, brown your beef halfway, then thow your chopped onion in to start softening it. Continue cooking until your beef is completely browned.

This is the rice pasta I use.  It is made from brown rice and has a slightly grainy texture, which becomes less noticeable once it is mixed with the spaghetti sauce and meat.

 Boil a big pot of water and cook your rice pasta according to the package directions. Drain, dump all ingredients into your pot and toss well. 

Place in a 9x13 casserole dish...

... and top with mozzarella cheese. (If you react to cheese you could also top with fresh chopped tomatoes.  They have a wonderfully roasted flavor when the ziti is finished baking.  Fresh chopped basil can also be added during the summer months as a garnish to increase flavor.)

...and bake in the oven for 30 minutes as 350 degrees.

Let stand for 10 minutes and serve with a side salad. Ahhh...I'm drooling over here.