BAKED ZITI RACHAEL RAY RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat
• Add the sausage, breaking it up into chunks, then add the beef and cook, breaking up both meats into crumbles as they brown
• Add the garlic, onion, marjoram and red pepper flakes (if using) and season with salt and black pepper
• Cook to soften the onions, 8-10 minutes
• Add the stock and passata
• Hand-crush the canned tomatoes as you add them to the pan, then add the juices from the cans
• Bring to a bubble, reduce the heat to a low simmer
• Add the basil and simmer for 30 minutes
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta
• Salt the water and cook the pasta about 3 minutes shy of al dente
• Before draining, ladle out about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water before draining the pasta
• Preheat the oven to 375°F
• In a large bowl, combine the ricotta and 1/2 cup of the Parm
• Stir in the egg, the reserved starchy water, the drained pasta and half the sauce
• Transfer the pasta to a large baking dish (at least 9x13 inches) and top with the remaining sauce
• Cover the pasta and sauce evenly with the grated mozzarella and the remaining 1/2 cup Parm
• Top with the parsley and bake until browned and bubbling on top and hot through, about 30 minutes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and cook pasta to a chewy al dente, about 8 minutes.
• In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and add extra-virgin olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.
• Preheat broiler to high.
• To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend. When cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes. When sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.
• Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to flameproof baking dish, casserole or flameproof serving platter. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.