Yummy!!

So Mike and I have been trying new recipes lately and the last one was SO GOOD that I thought I should share it. If you are looking for something super good, easy to make, simple ingredients, maybe vegetarian (for a night), and a crowd pleaser - Well here you go!!

BAKED ZITI WITH PESTO

1/2 pound Ziti
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
1 onion chopped (yes even Mike ate this)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups grated, packaged mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup store bought or homemade pesto

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8X8 baking dish
2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta for 7 minutes. It will be partially cooked. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again thoroughly.
3. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stiring occaisonally, until tanslucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stiring, for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, salt, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat and cook until very thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Remove the bay leaf. (BTW I was out of bay leaves and it was still good)
4. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 cup of the mozzarella, about half the parmesan, the pesto, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
5. Put half of the cooked pasta into the prepared baking dish and top with about a third of the tomato sauce. Spread the ricotta mixture on the sauce in an even layer. Cover with the remaining pasta and then the remaining sauce. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozarella and the remaining Parmesan. Drizzle with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil. (I skipped that) Bake until bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before cutting. Serves 4