Recently, my daughter, who has moved into her own apartment, has grown interested in cooking and asked me to send her some quick, easy and economical recipes that she can make with minimal time and mess. I came up with several for her and will certainly be sharing this one. Even an inexperienced cook should have no problem with this recipe — it’s virtually foolproof. Add a green salad and some crusty bread, and you’ll have a hearty and satisfying dinner in next to no time.
NO-BOIL PASTA BAKE
Makes: 4 to 6 servings
1 16-oz. box of pasta (ziti, penne or any other medium-sized, shaped pasta)
1 24-oz. jar of tomato sauce
24 oz. water
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Freshly ground pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine uncooked pasta, tomato sauce, water and seasonings in a mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake 30 minutes. Uncover and stir well.
Top with cheeses. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and pasta is fork-tender.
REQUESTS
Marian Mullauer of Cockeysville, Md., is in search of the recipe for the ring-shaped crumb cake from the old Silber’s Bakery in Baltimore.
Nell Evans from Aberdeen, Md., says he is a big fan of the onion soup that is served at Outback Steakhouse. He was told the restaurant no longer was going to be making it, and he was hoping someone would be able to give him a good recipe so he can make it for himself.
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