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Baked Ziti with Meatballs

Source of Recipe

Sandy


List of Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, drained, reserving juice
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/4 pound lean ground pork
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, or 1 tsp dried
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste
4 cups ziti
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella


Recipe

Heat oil in skillet and add onion and garlic- cook, stirring, about 5 min until softened. Stir in the drained tomatoes. Reduce heat and cook 5 minutes, until bubbly.

In a large bowl, combune beef and pork, parmesan, 1/2 cup of the parsley, bread crumbs, egg whites, herbs, and salt and pepper. Form into 40 walnut-sized meatballs and drop gently into bubbling sauce. Simmer, without stirring, about 15 minutes, until firm. Stir in the remaining parsley and cook, stirring occassionally and adding the reserved tomato juice as needed; about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked.

Preheat oven to 400 and spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray.

Cook ziti as package directs; drain. Toss with the sauce in a large bowl, then pour into the pan. Sprinkle with the mozzarella, and bake covered, 20 minutes; uncover for another 10 minutes.

I halved this recipe and it fed four of us with leftovers! I used a smaller pan.

Points: 1 cup plus 5 meatballs,=6.