Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage, casings removed 5 cups fresh or jarred marinara sauce 1 medium sized onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 large eggplant 1 Tbsp. olive oil 12 ounces ricotta cheese 1 teaspoons Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon nutmeg 1 dash salt and pepper 1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded 12 ounces Italian blend cheese, shredded 3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
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Directions: |
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Peel the eggplant and slice lengthwise sections that are about 1/4 inch thick. Place on a greased cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil and bake until tender (about 5 minutes). Set aside. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 – 3 more minutes. Drain, add marinara sauce and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, Italian seasoning, nutmeg, Italian cheese, salt and pepper. Spread bottom of a very large baking dish with sauce. Layer 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2 of the eggplant, ½ of the sauce mixture, 1/2 of the ricotta, and 1/2 the mozzarella. Spoon half of the sauce over top. Repeat layers. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. |