Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
• 1 pound Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground pork
• 32 to 48 oz marinara or pasta sauce
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 heaping cup ricotta cheese
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese
• 8-12 slices of provolone cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cook the pasta: Heat a large pot of salted water (for every 2 quarts of water, one tablespoon of salt) to a strong boil. Add the pasta and cook at a rolling boil, uncovered, until the pasta is al dente—edible but still a little firm to the bite (about 11 minutes) . Drain the pasta in a colander.
3. Brown the meat: While the water is heating in the previous step, start on the sauce. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the bulk sausage or ground meat. Break up any large chunks of sausage as it cooks. Brown well. Don't stir that often or it will be more difficult for the meat to brown. If you are using ground beef or pork instead of sausage, sprinkle with a little salt.
4. Assemble the casserole:
5. a. Add half the noodles mixed with sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole pan, then dot the surface with half the ricotta cheese, add provolone, and ¼ mozzarella.
6. b. Repeat this one more time.
7. c. Cover the pasta in sauce ensuring ends are not exposed.
8. d. Add the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
9. Bake: Bake uncovered in the oven at 350°F until the top is lightly browned and the cheese melted, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.