Baked Ziti With Veggies

A tasty way to sneak extra veggies into your meal.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 1  onion
• 3  garlic cloves
• 1⁄2 cup white wine
• 6  ounces tomato paste
• 1  quart stewed tomatoes
• 1  pinch salt
• 1  pinch pepper
• 1  tablespoon sugar
• 2  teaspoons  italian seasoning
• 2  bay leaves
• 1  large zucchini, sliced
• 8  ounces  sliced mushrooms
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 8  ounces ziti pasta, cooked
• 6  ounces fat-free cottage cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 1⁄2 cups  shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. brown ground beef and onion. When cooked through, drain fat. Add minced garlic and saute 1 minute.
2. Add wine and reduce a few minutes. Stir in tomato paste, stewed tomatoes, and spices (through bay leaves). Simmer 30 minutes or until sauce reduces slightly.
3. In a separate pan, lightly saute zucchini and mushrooms in butter. Salt and pepper to taste. Veggies should still be somewhat firm.
4. In a large bowl, mix veggies, pasta, half of meat sauce, cottage cheese and Parmesan. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Top with remaining meat sauce and Mozzarella.
5. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes.