Baked Ziti

If you like Tortino's combination flavored pizza rolls then you are going to love this recipe. I'm not kidding it taste just like combination pizza rolls. I'm not sure why this is called baked ziti when the noodles are not ziti noodles, but with the way it tastes I don't really care what they named it. Anyways you are going to love this recipe. The kids can't get enough of it. This recipe also freezes well. Just thaw and bake, taste just like you sent a lot of time on it.

1 box rigatoni pasta 

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

 2 1/2 spicy Italian sausages, casings removed 

1/2 yellow onion, diced 

 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced 

2 garlic cloves, minced 

1 jar sun-dried tomato and sweet basil spaghetti sauce 

2 cups mozzarella cheese 

1/2 Parmesan, grated salt and pepper to taste

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a small handful of salt and pasta to water and stir. Boil pasta for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is al dente. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of oil, pour into a large mixing bowl and Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium- high heat. Add sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook sausage for about 5 minutes or until evenly browned. Drain and add to pasta. Discard grease and add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic to pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour onion mixture over sausage and pasta mixture and toss together. Add marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan and gently fold together until fully incorporated. Adjust seasonings. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese bubbles and browns. Allow ziti to cool for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.