Inspired by the baked pasta dish we made while on vacation, we decided to try this recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/baked_ziti/
Our modifications: first, for the pasta we used 1 pound of rigatoni instead of ziti. We also preheated the oven to 350 at the start of preparation. Second, for the sauce we used ¾ lb spicy Italian sausage (removed from casings), 24 oz (reduced from 32) Rao’s marinara, one large onion, and 4 cloves garlic; we skipped the other herbs and pepper flakes to avoid overseasoning the dish. Third, we found the recipe inconsistent in terms of the written instructions, which did not follow the video. So here we summarize the actual method that we followed to assemble the casserole: (1) In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1 pound of cooked pasta with one scoop of the sauce. (2) Lightly oil the casserole dish with olive oil, then coat the bottom with a thin layer of sauce. (3) Evenly distribute ½ cup of ricotta cheese (about 5 dollops) in the casserole dish. (4) Place all of the pasta, which is lightly coded in that sauce, in the casserole dish. (5) Add the remainder of the sauce over the pasta. (6) Evenly distribute the remaining half cup of ricotta cheese – again, about 5 dollops. (7) sprinkle 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese on top, then sprinkle the grated or shredded Parmesan cheese (we used about ¼ cup total, reduced from 1 cup). Finally, bake for 20-25 mins, and then place in broiler for a few mins to lightly brown.
Cooking Adventures 