...for your dining pleasure...

Josh made the most delicious dinner tonight, we decided it would be a good idea to share! It was Classic Baked Ziti, with Josh's special twist.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
16 oz. Ziti
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 c. pasta water reserved from cooking Ziti
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. grated parmesan cheese
6 c. of meatless spaghetti sauce (OR...use Josh's amazingly tasty special recipe for spaghetti sauce below!!)

• Slightly undercook Ziti, about 6 minutes.
• Drain, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375o.
• In large skillet over medium heat cook meat, onions and garlic; stirring frequently 6-8 minutes or until beef is brown. Drain excess fat.
• Stir in 5 cups spaghetti sauce and pasta water. Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes.
• Mix meat/sauce mixture with Ziti.
• Spoon 1/2 of Ziti mixture into 13x9x2 baking dish.
• Sprinkle with mozzarella and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
• Top with remaining Ziti mixture and remaining 1 cup of spaghetti sauce.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

JOSH'S SPECIAL SAUCE:

(This is what Josh uses in place of a jar of bought-spaghetti sauce...Josh says, "Ragu, yuck!")

1 can (14.5 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 8oz can of tomato paste

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

~1/2 cup brown sugar to taste

1 tbsp. oregano

1 tbsp. basil

1 tbsp. parsley

a dash of salt and pepper

• Just combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. It should equal around 6 cups...give or take.

Enjoy!! Let us know what you think if you try it out!!