Baked Ziti - The Brooklyn Way

VIDEO LINK:  https://youtu.be/w3euQlL42mE

This is half the portion of the video, which feeds 8-10 people.  Just double the amount of ingredients for the full tray,

Ingredients:

* 1 lb. of ziti (cook aldente)

* 56 ounces of tomato sauce (video link: https://youtu.be/C3bnjudDMT0 (ingredients listed at the end of the video).

* 8 ounces of ricotta

* 1/2 cup of Romano or parmesan cheese

* 24 ounces of shredded whole-milk mozzarella (reserve 16 for topping)

* 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella pearls

* 2 dozen mini meatballs

* TBSP of chopped Italian parsley

* 1/2 tsp. of black pepper

Meatball Ingredients:

 • 1 lb. of ground beef (80/20) 

• 1 cup of Italian style breadcrumbs 

• Tsp. salt 

• ½ tsp. of black pepper 

• 2 cloves of pressed garlic 

• 2 TBSP od chopped Italian parsley 

• 3 TBSP of Parmesan cheese 

• 1 egg 

• ¼ cup of water 

Instructions: 

Mix all the ingredients together, roll into quarter size balls and then cook on 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

Directions:

1. Cook ziti aldente

2. In a large bowl add ziti, ricotta, 8 oz. of shredded whole-milk mozzarella, black pepper, parsley and 12 oz of tomato sauce then mix well.

3.  layer bottom of your pan with tomato sauce, and then add the ziti, mozzarella pearls and meatballs (spread evenly).

4. top with remaining tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella.

5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and bake for 45 minutes.

6. Enjoy!