Use penne pasta to make your cheesy baked ziti.
If you are looking for a warm Italian comfort meal, try baked ziti. Baked ziti is a dish that mixes pasta with sauce, cheese and, sometimes, ground meat. Many people experiment with the sauce in baked ziti. While traditionally the sauce is tomato based, such as a marinara, some prefer to give their baked ziti a creamy consistency by combining marinara sauce with a sauce made from cheddar and Parmesan cheeses.
Instructions
1. Boil one box of penne pasta in a large pot with enough water to cover the pasta and 2 teaspoons of salt. Remove from heat and strain the water with a colander once the pasta is al dente.
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Pour the pasta from the colander into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Mix until thoroughly coated.
4. Add 3 1/2 cups of marinara sauce to the pasta in the large mixing bowl. Depending on your taste preferences, you may want to add one or two teaspoons of garlic powder, or perhaps season the pasta and sauce with a pinch of red cayenne pepper to give it a kick.
5. Cut your cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese into slices. Reserve a few slices on the side. Place the rest of the slices in a small sauce pan on the stove. Add 1/2 c. of cream, or enough to cover the slices. Turn the stove onto medium and stir the mixture until the cheeses melt into the cream and the sauce thickens.
6. Add the cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce to the pasta mixture in the large mixing bowl. Fold in evenly.
7. Pour the pasta mixture into your baking dish. Top the dish off with the remaining slices of cheddar and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbling. Do not overcook the ziti or the cheese may burn and the pasta will harden.
Tags: large mixing, large mixing bowl, mixing bowl, Parmesan cheese, with sauce, baked ziti, baked ziti