Creamy Baked Ziti

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 lb. ziti pasta
For the red sauce
  • 500 g. (17 oz.) traditional tomato sauce in can or pouch
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pc white onions, finely chopped
  • ½ lb. ground beef
  • ½ lb. hotdog, chopped into slant ovals
  • 1 small (4 oz.) canned button mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 2 tbsps. fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsps. olive oil
For the white sauce
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 to 2 pouches of 250 g. (9 oz.) all purpose cream
  • 2 to 3 tbsps. cornstarch
  • 1 cup quickmelt cheese, grated

PROCEDURE:
  1. Cook the ziti pasta based on the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan over medium to high fire, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion, garlic and ground beef. Stir continuously until the beef turns brown. Put in the mushrooms and tomato sauce and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle with oregano and basil, and then season with salt and pepper.
  4. Toss the ziti pasta and the red sauce. Do this until the ingredients are well-blended. While mixing, preheat the oven to 250ºF.
  5. Bake the pasta with red sauce in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
  6. While baking, prepare the white sauce. Using a clean saucepan over low to medium heat, simmer the combined evaporated milk, all purpose cream and ¼ cup grated cheese. Add some cornstarch and stir constantly until the sauce thickens. Season with some salt and pepper. Set aside.
  7. If the baking is done, ladle over the white sauce until evenly distributed. Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with parsley.
  8. Serve hot with garlic bread toast. Enjoy!

**Number of servings: 5 to 6

TIPS FROM ENZ:
  1. You may drain the ziti pasta before it reaches the al dente stage as you are still going to bake this in the oven. This will give you a fighting chance to have some bite when it is done.
  2. If you want some spicy red sauce, you may add some red chili flakes or whatever spicy chili available.
  3. Make sure to dot the cheese toppings right on while the pasta is still steaming hot to let it melt on its own.