Baked Ziti and Cheese Recipe
3 cups of uncooked ziti
2 1/4 cups of milk
1/2 cup of Romano or Parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup of onions, chopped
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. Italian sausage (sweet)
1 cup of mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup of all-purpose flour, unsifted
1 cup of 2-inch length slices of green pepper
1/2 cup of margarine or butter
2 cups of Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. salt
Italian sausage should be oven baked for about 30 mins. at around 350′ F. Let it cool prior to cutting up the sausages into thin slices then set this aside.
Onto a 3-qt. saucepan, saute the onions, mushrooms and green peppers in margarine or butter until they are tender and not browned then take out the vegetables out of the saucepan then set it aside as well.
Onto the saucepan, add in flour to the margarine or butter and slowly add in the milk. Stir it constantly while cooking on medium low flame until the mixture starts boiling.
Stir for 1 min. while boiling then add in 1.5 cups of shredded Cheddar and Romano or Parmesan cheese, pepper & salt then continue stirring until the cheeses melts and the mixture smoothens. Set this aside & keep it warm.
Ziti should be cooked as per package instructions for around 10 mins. and drain them well. Add in the slices of sausage, vegetables that have been sauteed and the ziti onto your cheese sauce.
Put this mixture onto a 2-qt. well greased baking dish or casserole then sprinkle half a cup of the shredded Cheddar.
Bake in the oven covered with foil for about 20 mins. at around 350′ F. Take off the foil then just continue baking for 10-15 mins. more or just until the top turns brown.
Serves 4 – 6.