Baked Ziti!

 A delicious recipe for Baked Ziti! Here are the step-by-step instructions for making it:

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (1 box) of ziti or penne pasta
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 4 cups tomato sauce (or 2 cans)
• (Note: Shred a block of cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese, and for the ricotta, distribute it in small dollops throughout the pan)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
2. Cook the ziti or penne pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink. Break it up into small pieces with a spatula as it cooks.
4. Stir in the paprika, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to season the beef. Cook for a couple of minutes to infuse the flavors.
5. Add 1/2 cup of water to the skillet and let it simmer for a few minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken slightly.
6. Stir in the tomato sauce (or canned tomato sauce) and mix well with the beef. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
7. In a large baking dish, layer the cooked pasta. Then, spoon some of the beef and sauce mixture over the pasta. Add dollops of ricotta cheese throughout the pan.
8. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
9. Continue layering pasta, beef and sauce mixture, and cheeses until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with a generous layer of cheese on top.
10. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
12. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly, and the edges turn golden brown.
13. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving to allow it to set. Then, dish up and enjoy your homemade baked ziti!