Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Cheese

What happened to summer? Every year it seems to go faster and faster. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to devote to my blog but, am hoping I can be back in the saddle again. Now with the weather turning colder I may be staying inside more therefore have more time to cook! YAY. What I am trying to do is make meals that I can easily freeze. It is so much easier to do that and portion them out in 1 or 2 servings. With the hubs gone alot it is easier to eat better when it is portioned out and ready to eat.  Here is my first of many meals I am going to freeze.

Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Cheese
Adapted From Cooking Light

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) package uncooked ziti (short tube-shaped pasta)
• 1 pound hot turkey Italian sausage links
• 1 cup chopped onion ( or MORE if you like onion like ME!!)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• Cooking spray
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain the pasta, and set aside.
• Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

I used these Chicken and Turkey Sausage from Trader Joes. I cut them up and them used my chopper to make it a finer chop since they don't crumble very well. You could also cut them in smaller pieces so you have chunks of sausage in your pasta.

Saute the Sausage, Onion and Garlic

                           Layer the ingredients, Place in 4 qt dish and Bake

Enjoy the gooey cheese baked pasta.