Long time no see...

SO SORRY that its taken me forever to post again. School has picked up a lot--and by a lot, I mean I have about 15 assignments due in the next 3 weeks...so it might be 3 weeks before you hear me again... Anyways, last friday I took the time to get away from the books and have a potluck with 2 of my good girlfriends and then go see a movie. I made Baked Beef Ziti.

Baked Beef Ziti, again from WW, tweeked by Chelsea

5 points per serving, serves 8

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp of olive oil
• 2 medium cloves of garlic, minced (or just use the jar version, already minced, like I do)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 28 oz can of Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 cup part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 3/4 lb lean ground beef
• 12 oz whole wheat penne pasta or ziti (if you can find it, I just use penne since it looks like ziti)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta and drain, set aside
• While the pasta is cooking, put oil and a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for about 2 minutes.
• Add beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat off meat and place back over heat.
• Add the oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper to beef and stir until coated. Let it cook until the herbs become fragrent, about 2 minutes.
• Add can of tomatoes and let it come to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Once done simmering, take a 4 quart casserole dish and spoon a small amount of tomato/beef sauce on the bottom (just enough to coat it)
• Next, top with half of the pasta and then 1/2 of the tomato/beef sauce.
• Then layer with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
• The next layer should be the remaining pasta and then top with the rest of the tomato/beef sauce and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes or until cheese becomes golden and bubbly.
• I slice into 8 pieces to get a serving size.

Each serving size is plenty if served with a side, like a salad or vegetable. This was a success at my potluck dinner and Kirk really likes it too. It also holds well as a left-over. Hope you enjoy!!
Now back to the books!