Baked Ziti With Special Tomato Sauce

This sauce has a secret ingredient, grape or currant jelly, that's right, jelly! I use the unsweetened kind, I find the fruit takes the acidity out of the tomatoes.

• Ready In: 1 hr 8 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• BAKED ZITI

• 1  lb  dried ziti pasta
•  kosher salt
• 3 1⁄2 cups  quick tomato sauce
• 1  lb fresh mozzarella cheese, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 cup  freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1  pinch red pepper flakes

• QUICK TOMATO SAUCE

• 2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄2 lb  sweet Italian sausage, casing removed and crumbled
• 1⁄2 lb  hot Italian sausage, casing removed and crumbled
• 1⁄2 medium onion, diced
• 4  garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 1⁄2 cups canned tomatoes (whole, peeled in puree & roughly chopped)
•  italian seasoning
• 1  sprig fresh thyme
• 2  teaspoons kosher salt
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup  grape jelly (unsweetened) or 1⁄2 cup currant jelly (unsweetened)

Directions

1. QUICK TOMATO SAUCE:
2. Make this first; heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
3. Cook the sausages until begining to brown, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more.
5. Add the tomatoes, thyme and jelly or preserves and bring to a boil.
6. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
7. Remove and sicard the sprig of thyme.
8. Stir in the seasoning and season with pepper, to taste.
9. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 dayse or freeze up to 2 months. The yield is 5 cups.
10. ZITI:.
11. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
12. Cook the ziti according to pkg directions.
13. Drain.
14. Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, cubed mozzarella, half of the Parmesan cheese, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
15. Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9x13" baking dish.
16. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
17. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes.
18. Serve at once.