BAKED ZITI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Cook Italian sausage in a lightly greased pan until browned on all sides. Remove to a cutting board and let cool. (Sausage does not need to be cooked through at this point. It will finish cooking in the sauce.)

When sausage has cooled some, cut it into slices.

Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a Dutch oven. Add onion and cook 5 to 7 minutes to soften. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.

Add Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes, and stewed tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Bring to a simmer and add Italian sausage slices. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cook ziti in salted water according to package directions. Drain.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Ladle about 1/4 of the sauce into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch pan.

Evenly arrange 1/2 the ziti in the pan. Dollop half the mascarpone cheese and cottage cheese over the ziti. Add half the ptrovolone cheese strips and half the mozzarella.

Top cheese with half the remaining sauce followed by the remaining ziti.

Dollop on the remaining mascarpone cheese and cottage cheese. Layer with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella cheese, the provolone and the Parmesan. Cover with a piece of aluminum foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray so that the cheese doesn’t stick.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese.