Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage And Garlic Buns

Ingredients:

1 Box of Ziti Rigati

1 lb. of Mild Italian Sausage

1 35oz. can of Plum Tomatoes

1-1/2 cups Olive Oil

1/2 cup Dry Red Wine

1 cup Fresh Parley

1 cup Fresh Oregano

1-8 oz. triangle of Parmesan Cheese

1-16 oz. Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese
1-15 oz. Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese

2 pinches of Nutmeg
6-7 cloves of garlic
1 Large Onion

Salt & pepper to taste

1 package Brown & Serve Rolls

Fill a large pot with water for cooking the Ziti Rigati. Bring to a full boil and add pasta and cook until al dente.

Dice up the onion.

Saute the onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet until soft.

Remove casing from Italian sausages and dice up 3-4 cloves of garlic.

Crumble the sausage as you add it to the skillet.

Add the garlic.

Cook until sausage turns brown.
Add 1/2 cup of Red wine and reduce.

Add 35 oz. can of tomatoes with juices and cook uncovered on medium low heat for about 1o minutes.

Then throw in 1/4 cup of diced oregano, give it a stir and turn down the heat to low.

Now, in a large bowl, combine 15 oz. Ricotta cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup of chopped parsley, salt & pepper to taste.

Shred the whole 16 0z. Mozzarella cheese.

Add cooked Ziti to the bowl of ricotta mixture along with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella.

Add the tomatoes and sausages to the bowl.

Mix together.

Oil the bottom and sides of a large baking dish, I used the olive oil. No, these are not my hands. Those little beautiful hands belong to my 7 year old granddaughter who wanted to help. She was my taster and said, "Mimi, you are such a good cook", and after that she was allowed to do what ever she wanted:)!!!!

Place all the ingredients you have in your big bowl into a baking dish and sprinkle Parmesan and mozzarella on top and try to take the picture before you put in into a 425 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until bubbly!!!! I had already put it in the oven when I realized I didn't take the picture of putting it in the baking dish and sprinkling the cheese on top. I was sooo excited that my granddaughter loved my cooking that I just forgot!!!!! So I pulled out of the oven took the pic and back in it went.

"Mama Mia", I even surprised myself!

But we need garlic buns, and

this is what you will need.
Garlic, Olive Oil, Parsley, & Parmesan of (GOOPP).

Put 3 cloves of garlic, 2 small chunks of Parmesan cheese, about 1/8 cup of chopped parsley and about a 1/2 cup of olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste in food processor and let her spin. I just eyeball the amounts so you can add according to your preference. It also depends upon how many rolls you are making. You may need more and you may needs less. You may also have to add more olive oil depending on the thickness, because you want to be able to pour it on top of the hot buns, therefore it shouldn't be too thick. I was so carried away with the GOOPP that I forgot to take a picture of it in my mini food processor, so this is what it looked like after I took it out and poured it on the hot buns.

Bake the buns as directed on the package. Of course you can use your favorite kind buns or rolls, or you can make your own. We just happen to love these. And I really didn't have time to even think about making my own!!!!

Pour the GOOPP on top of the hot buns right out of the oven and then shred some more Parmesan cheese on top.

"MAMA MIA"

Now it's time to serve it up.

I hope you enjoy making and eating this very authentic Italian dish. My family and I did. It was even better the second day. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

I Wish You Love, Vi Auguro Amore
~Mimi~