Recipe: Cheesy Baked Ziti

I am always looking for new recipes to try especially if it’s Italian.  I love Italian food. I think I must have been Italian in a previous life or maybe preparing to be one in my next one – hehe!

I recently made this delicious baked ziti. I don’t really have a recipe to follow and just pretty much threw it all together and if I do say so myself, it came out super awesome and super cheesy.

Ingredients:

1 Package of ground beef

1 Package of pasta – I used bow tie this time

1 Can/Jar Spaghetti Sauce

1 Small onion

2-3 Spoonfuls of minced garlic

1 Cup of Parmesan cheese

1 Package of shredded cheese-divided

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions
2. Heat up onions and garlic in your skillet and add ground beef & seasonings
3. Line baking sheet with foil –optional
4. Coat the bottom of the tray with sauce
5. Pour pasta into baking dish
6. Mix in your beef, spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese and shredded cheese
7. Make sure it’s well blended
8. Add remaining shredded cheese to the top layer and cover with non-stick foil
9. Bake 350°F for about 30 minutes

Voila! A quick and easy dinner for the family.

Chicken Broccoli And Ziti

I saw this recipe on one of our local news stations when they do their weekly visits to restaurants. I have tried it a few times and it is mmmm absolutely delish! I have to say that this is definitely one of my favorite meals. I generally love anything with cream sauce in it and when we got out to eat and this is on the menu then its for me. I have to admit that I am not a broccoli fan and I generally pick it out or eat very little of it but with this recipe I eat every single bite!




Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup oil
* 1/4 Stick Butter
* 1/4 Cup chopped garlic (less if using fresh)
* 1 qt heavy cream
* 8 Cups Broccoli Florets (frozen)
* 10-12 pieces of chicken tenders (I used a pkg of grilled Perdue Short Cuts)
* 3 cups of artichoke hearts (I passed on this ingredient)
* Pinch of Salt & Pepper (I used Goya Adobo All Seasoning instead)
* Pinch of granulated garlic
* 3 Cups Parmesan
* 7 Cups of ziti cooked aldente

Directions:

1. Start out using an 8qt sauce pan/pot
2. Make sure your veggies are strained of excess water
3. On low/medium heat, add your oil and butter and heat until the butter melts
4. Add your garlic and saute until it (just starts) to turn light brown (about 2 min)
5. Add your cream and heat until it just starts to slightly boil
6. Add your broccoli florets and stir for about 2 min
7. Add your chicken and keep stirring about 2 min ( I sprinkled Adobo on chicken to season)
8. Add your Artichoke hearts, salt, pepper, granulated garlic and let simmer about 2 min.
9. Next put in your ziti and stir into the pot followed by the Parmesan and shut off
10. Continue stirring for a couple minutes so the cream and Parmesan do not stick or burn in the pot