Baked ziti

By lhergenreder

Ingredients

• 1 lb whole cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 oz. grated Parmesan cheese (1.5 cups)
• Salt
• 1 lb ziti or penne pasta
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 28 oz tomato sauce
• 1 14.5 diced tomatoes (28 oz crused)
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 c fresh basil plus 2 tbs chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp sugar
• Ground black pepper
• 3/4 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 c heavy cream
• 8 oz mozzarella

Preparation

Step 1

350 degree oven

Soften pasta, but leave uncooked. Leave in colander but unrinsed.

Heat oil and garlic, about 2 min. Do not brown. Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes and oregano. Simmer until thickened about 10 min. Off heat stir in 1/2 c basil and sugar, then seaon with salt and paper.

Stir cornstarch into cream in Dutch oven. Turn on medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and add cottage cheese, I cup tomato sauce, and 3/4 cup mozzarella, stirring to mix. Add pasta, stirring until coated.

Transfer pasta mixture to 13x9 baking dish. Spread remaining tomato sauce over pasta. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 mozzarella and 1/2 Parmesan on top.

Cover tightly with foil and bake 30 min or longer.

Cool for 20 min. Top with remaining 2 tbs. basil.