Baked Ziti ... aka the Lazy Lasagna
This evening I decided to make baked ziti...

1 lb. box ziti pasta
1 26 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 bag Italian shredded cheese
Parmesan cheese (the kind you use for spaghetti)
1 small can mushrooms (drained)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees... meanwhile...

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon basil
dash garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 or 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Brown sausage with onion in olive oil;
then add basil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, & set aside.

Start (kosher) salted water to boil for pasta...

15 oz. ricotta cheese
dash of garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes
dash of basil

Mix the above 4 ingredients together & set aside.

Boil pasta as directed on the package to firm,
Do NOT over cook your pasta...
After you have drained your pasta, put in a bowl & mix with mushrooms & 1 cup pasta sauce.

Now: take out your casserole dish (I always spray my dish with vegetable spray),
& put a 1/4 cup of pasta sauce in the bottom of the pan to cover:
add a layer of the sausage mixture;
a layer of pasta mixture;
a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture;
spoon some sauce over;
sprinkle with Italian shred cheeses & Parmesan cheese;
& repeat.
Add remaining shredded cheese on top & bake for 25 minutes.
After you remove the baked ziti from the oven, let stand 10 minutes...

Then Eat & Enjoy!