A RECIPE FROM ROTTA VINEYARD & WINERY

A loyal Rotta customer, Zoe, supplied this recipe to go with Rotta Cabernet Sauvignon.  “I got the Baked Ziti recipe about three years ago, but it called for bottled spaghetti sauce and I don't do bottled  spaghetti sauce, so I put it together my way. I have been making the pasta sauce for about 30 + years I tweak it from time to time.    In fact, I just got a request to make it for my daughter's friend's baby shower.”

Baked Ziti                                                    
1 pound dry ziti pasta (or penne pasta)                
6 ½ cups pasta sauce (recipe below)
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.   Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8       
   minutes; drain.
2 In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add pasta sauce, and simmer 
   15 minutes.
3 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream,
  1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. 
  Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
4 Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

Zoe’s Pasta Sauce
Note:  For most robust flavors, make the sauce a day ahead of time, before you make the casserole
1 lb. Italian sausage (casings removed)
2 Tbl. Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbl.  Italian seasoning
1 large can tomato puree (28 oz.?)
2 cans tomato paste (or 1 large)
1 Tbl. Sugar
2 bay leaves
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 cups water + or - (or half water and half good red wine)

Brown sausage, add olive oil, onion and garlic – sauté until tender.   Add remaining ingredients.  Use amounts of water and wine to your taste and the consistency you like.  Simmer (the longer the better) and remove bay leaves before use.  Or – use two 26 oz. jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce,

Enjoy with your Rotta Cabernet Sauvignon.  Salud!