Make It Your Own Baked Penne

Looking for an easy peasy, yummy cheesy recipe? You've found it.

The best part? It was made healthier than a traditional baked pasta dish by using reduced fat cheese and whole wheat pasta.

Make It Your Own Baked Penne

1 pound of penne pasta (use whole wheat if possible)
1 (26-32 oz) jar of pasta sauce -OR- 3-4 cups Sweet Pea Pasta Sauce
1 15oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 1/2 c of any vegetable you choose**
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t ground oregano
1 16 oz container of fat free ricotta cheese
1/2 c grated parmesan
8 0z package 2% milk Italian shredded cheese

Cook the penne according to the package instructions, omitting fat and salt.

While the penne is cooking, heat the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, your choice of vegetable**, garlic and oregano over medium low heat in a sauce pan. Stir to combine.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Drain the penne and mix with the pasta sauce mixture. Place half in the bottom of a 9x13 oven safe pan. Spread the ricotta on top, and then sprinkle the parmesan cheese and half of the shredded cheese on top. Top with remaining pasta sauce and penne, followed by remaining shredded cheese.Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the top looks like this:

**use whatever vegetables you wish--I used 1 c roasted eggplant and some chopped spinach...but you can use olives, chopped mushrooms, cooked broccoli, zucchini, peppers, artichoke hearts, etc. -OR- alternatively, you could use ground meat of some type

We loved this recipe, I hope you do too!

Oh, and I will post the other recipes within the next week too...
SPC