Tasty Tuesday - Baked Ziti

I was recently at Publix picking up some pasta that was BOGO and all they had was a few boxes of elbow macaroni and many, many boxes of ziti. We usually eat penne pasta, but I didn't want to waste my coupons (Hello, pasta for 20 cents?? I'll take it!).  So, I ended up picking up two boxes of elbow macaroni and two boxes of ziti.  I honestly didn't know what I'd do with the ziti, until I saw the recipe on the back of the box.  It looked so incredibly easy and absolutely scrumptious!

Ingredients:
1/2 box of ziti
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 lb to 1 lb of ground meat
Grated parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese
1 jar of spaghetti sauce

You undercook the ziti just a bit. Then set it aside with one cup of the pasta water reserved.  Then you brown the ground meat, pepper and onion. Drain any extra grease.  Add almost the entire jar of sauce and the pasta water to the meat mixture, and simmer for a few minutes.  Mix in the pasta.  Then put half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Add a layer of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.  Add the rest of the pasta mixture and another layer of cheeses. Then pour the rest of the pasta sauce on top and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees!

I tweaked it just a bit because as I started cooking, I realized that I forgot to pick up ground turkey (that's what we use instead of beef) while shopping.  So, I added mushrooms instead. And it was actually delicious! I can't believe I actually made a vegeterian dish that was super yummy! We also made a can of those Pillsbury breadsticks, and added a caesar salad. It was the perfect Friday night meal (especially since my sweet husband had to bike forty miles and run nine the next morning)!

If you're wondering . . . yes, we eat on paper plates in our house. It makes clean-up that much easier. =)

And because I don't like to leave you without an outfit, below is what I wore Saturday to the park.  The flip-flops were perfect for traipsing around the sand pit and the blousy shirt was just breezy enough for an afternoon in the sun.

Flowery shirt & shorts: Old Navy

Purple tank: Express

Belt: Target (I think)

Flip Flops: Bealls