Again with the Baked Ziti!

I realize I've already posted this once, but figured that it's good and easy enough to warrant a second helping, especially since I've recently posted the Peanut Butter Pie.

Let's face it: we've all had days when we want something hot and yummy, but with a minimum amount of effort. What to fix on these days? Baked Ziti fits the bill. And if you're like me, chances are you have all the makings in your cupboard and fridge.

Here's what it takes:

16 ounce box of ziti
26 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
1 jar-full of water
2 C shredded cheese

Okay, I can hear you asking, "What brand of spaghetti sauce? What type of sauce? And the cheese...Cheddar? Mozzarella? Can it be the stuff already shredded and in a bag or does it have to be a block of cheese that I grate and measure?" Here's the good part: Use what you have, which, chances are, are what you like. It doesn't matter what brand of spaghetti sauce or kind of cheese.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Take a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Dump the dried ziti into the pan. (No, no, do NOT cook the ziti first. Dump the ziti uncooked straight from the box.) Pour the spaghetti sauce into the pan and add one jar-full of water into the pan. Stir to mix. Add most of the shredded cheese, reserving 1/4-1/2 cup of cheese. Stir again to mix. Bake in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes for a total time of 35 minutes.

Serve with a salad and possibly garlic bread and possibly a peanut butter pie for dessert

See? Simple, hot, good and with at minimum amount of energy. What could be better for an after-work dinner?

Note: My younger two and I have called this recipe Talking Pasta for a few years. I can almost hear you thinking Huh? Talking pasta? Years ago, one of the name brands of spaghetti/pasta sauce had one line of sauce that was marketed for baked ziti. Their commercials showed cartoon ziti that talked about how good the sauce was in baked ziti; hence, Talking Pasta. Call it that, or Baked Ziti; either way, it's yummy, quick, and easy! Enjoy!