Baked Ziti

This surprisingly easy Italian dish will please almost anyone.  With the right amount of spices and the perfect blend of cheeses, it is sure to be a success.  Experiment with spices and garlic to make the perfect tomato sauce.  Molto delizioso!

Ingredients

12 oz. ziti
28 oz. spaghetti sauce (We use Prego Traditional)

3 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz. ricotta cheese
10 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 lbs. ground beef (can also use ground beef and Italian sausage)
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt, to taste

Directions

Cook pasta.  

While pasta is cooking, brown beef/sausage and drain. 

If desired, add minced garlic and salt to spaghetti sauce to taste.

Add spaghetti sauce to beef mixture.  

In bowl, combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 c. Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.  

Drain pasta and add to cheese mixture and toss to coat.  

Spoon 1/3 of meat sauce into 13x9x2 pan.  

Top with 1/2 of pasta mixture.  

Repeat layers.  

Top with remaining meat sauce and remaining Mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until sauce bubbles.

Happy munching!

Thick, Fudgy Brownies

We love brownies in our family. However, we are not a big fan of homemade brownies. They often are too flat or too dry.We were surprised by this recipe from Tasty Kitchen. It makes a lot of deep, fudgy brownies. We hope you all enjoy making (and eating!) these as much as we have.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups granulated sugar

1 cup butter, melted or 1 cup of oil

4 Tablespoons water

4 whole eggs

4 teaspoons vanilla Extract

2-⅔ cups all-purpose flour

1-½ cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoons salt

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, set aside.

Combine sugar, butter, and water in a large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Set aside.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; stir this into the sugar mixture. Spread into prepared baking pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Happy Munching!