Baked Ziti

This is a good, solid make-ahead meal. It's not so fancy that picky eaters will turn up their noses, but complex enough to move beyond your basic spaghetti and meat sauce. This one is definately kid friendly. Vegetarians can omit the beef or can substitute sauteed crimini or portabella mushrooms for a heartier meal.



BEEFY (or NOT) BAKED ZITI (or NOT)

2 pounds ground meat
2 cloves (or 2 tsp.) garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
4, 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2, 8oz. pkg cream cheese
2 cups sour cream
12 green onions, including green part, chopped
16 oz. noodles (rotini, macaroni or ziti)
2 cups mozzarella or cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:
- In a skillet, brown meat. Add garlic, salt and tomato sauce; simmer about 10 minutes.
- Soften cream cheese and blend thoroughly with sour cream. Add green onions and set aside.
- Boil noodles until 3 minutes before packaged directions; drain.
- In 9x13" (or 2, 8x8") aluminum baking pans, layer noodles, cream cheese mixture, and meat sauce. Repeat layers.
- Sprinkle cheese on top.

To Freeze:
- Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray and cover casserole.
- Thaw in refridgerator.

To Serve:
Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.
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