Baked Ziti with Spinach and Sausage

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves (large) garlic, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can diced, peeled tomato
1/4 cup pesto
10 ounces ziti or penne pasta (about 3 cups), freshly cooked
4 cups or handfuls of baby spinach leaves
6 ounces grated or cubed mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook sausage, onion and garlic until sausage is cooked through. Add tomatoes with juices. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add pesto. Season sauce with salt and pepper. You can prepare up to this point a day aheadand refrigerate. Bring mixture back to simmer before continuing.

Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl. Stir in warmhot tomato mixture. Plalce in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over. Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes.

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