Freezer meals: Baked Ziti

By á-6416

Ingredients

• 1 lb cottage cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 oz + 1-1/2C Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 C onion, chopped
• 28 oz tomato sauce
• 1 lb ziti
• 8 oz mozzarella
• 20 oz Italian sausage/ground beef
• 5 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 T olive oil
• 15 oz diced tomatoes
• 1/2 C + 2T basil
• 1 C whole milk
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp cornstarch
• salt & pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk cottage cheese, eggs, & 1C Parmesan together in a medium bowl; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to boil, cook pasta until it begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5-7m. Drain the pasta.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook meat until nearly browned. Add in the onion and garlic and continue to cook until the onion is softened and meat is completely browned. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10m. Off the heat, stir in 1/2C basil and the sugar, and season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl stir together the cornstarch and milk. Transfer the mixture to the now-empty stockpot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and add the cottage cheese mixture, 1-1/2C of the tomato sauce and 3/4C mozzarella. Stir to combine. Add the pasta and toss to coat thoroughly with the sauce.

Split the pasta into 2 foil-lined 8x8 baking dishes and spread the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the tops. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the tops.

Reheating- Thaw. Remove from foil & transfer back to an 8x8 baking dish. Cover with foil, bake at 350 for 30m. Remove foil & bake for an additional 30m.