I headed over to For the Love of Cooking knowing that I would find something wonderful. After bookmarking several recipes I decided to go with a baked ziti of sorts.
Baked Pasta with Meatballs
(Adapted from For the Love of Cooking)
Sauce:
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons dried onion
3 medium sized mushrooms (thinly sliced)
4 teaspoons dried garlic
1 quart crushed tomatoes
1 quart tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
(This is my standard from my canned tomatoes - you could also use 1-28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, 1-15 oz. can of tomato sauce)
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
Heat the oil in a slow cooker. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender. Add the remaining ingredients and allow to cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
3 medium mushrooms (diced into small pieces)
2 tablespoons dried onion
1/4 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon dried garlic
1 egg
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
salt & pepper to taste
Combine ingredients and mix well. Form into small meatballs. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned on all sides. Remove from skillet and add to the tomato sauce.
Pasta:
1-box favorite pasta
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Combine pasta with sauce. Add half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Pour pasta mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses and chopped basil.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
This recipe did not disappoint! It's a nice variation on spaghetti and meatballs or traditional baked ziti. The meatballs are delicious and smell so good when cooking. And who doesn't love melted cheese!!
1 comment:
ooohhhh this looks good, samples would be great and deeply appreciated!
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