Ziti

Lots of ingredients, lots of tasty!

____________________

ZITI

Photo taken by Tyler.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound whole milk cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups (3 ounces) Parmesan, grated
• Salt
• 1 pound ziti
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 5 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. sugar
• Black pepper
• 3/4 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups (8 ounces) low-moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into ¼ inch pieces

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350.
2. Whisk cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup of the Parmesan together in a bowl. Set aside. B
3. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven over high heat.
4. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook until pasta begins to soften but is not heated all the way through (5 to 7 minutes).
5. Drain pasta and leave in colander (do not wash Dutch oven.)
6. Meanwhile, heat the oil and garlic in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until garlic is fragrant but not brown, (about 2 minutes).
7. Stir in tomato sauce, dices tomatoes and oregano; simmer until thickened (about 10 minutes).
8. Take off heat, stir in 1/2 cup basil and sugar, then season with salt and pepper.
9. Stir cornstarch into heavy cream in a small bowl, transfer mixture to now-empty Dutch oven set over medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook until thickened (about 3 to 4 minutes).
10. Remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat thoroughly with sauce.
11. Transfer pasta mixture to a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan over top.
12. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
13. Remove foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer.
14. Cool for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons basil and serve.

____________________