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Baked Ziti with Greens

A great make now, bake later dish, baked Ziti (gluten free, if desired) can be assembled and baked when everyone gets home. Make as either a main dish or a side.
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Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Olive oil for the pan
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1-2 hot peppers to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
  • 2 c crushed tomatoes
  • 1 t dried basil
  • 1 t dried oregano
  • 1 c cooked chopped greens - spinach rabe, chard, etc. (opt.)
  • 1 c ricotta
  • 1/2 pound shaped pasta ziti, penne, cooked
  • 4 oz mozzarella sliced thin

Method
 

  1. First, make the pasta sauce.
  2. Heat a saute pan, heat the oil, and saute onion and peppers. When they are soft, add the garlic.
  3. Add the crushed tomato. Add the herbs, and stir them in. Simmer the sauce at least 10 minutes, to meld the flavor - longer if it won't rest before use.
  4. Stir in chopped cooked greens.
  5. Cook the pasta. Drain.
  6. At this point, you can hold everything for an hour or so. If it will wait longer, refrigerate it.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350.
  8. Stir the ricotta into the sauce. Stir in the cooked pasta. Place the mixture in a 2 quart baking dish. Arrange the mozzarella over it, to nearly cover.
  9. Bake at 350 for 15 - 25 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden, and it is heated through. (Time will vary by the original temperature of the ingredients.)
  10. Let stand 3-5 minutes before serving.