Natalia’s Favorite Recipe: Baked Penne

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. of Olive Oil

1 lb. of Penne Pasta

1 lb. of lean ground turkey or beef

2 cloves of garlic (mashed)

Tomato sauce (whole foods or if from scratch: 12 oz canned tomatoes, garlic, chopped onion, basil, salt and pepper)

16 oz. of Ricotta cheese

8 oz. of Mozzarella cheese

1 Tbs. of cinnamon

2 basil leaves

1/4 cup of Romano or Parmesan grated cheese

Oregano and Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet add oil (on Med heat), then begin to add garlic and ground turkey. Brown the turkey (cook slightly) and add tomato sauce; let the mixture simmer on low heat for 10-20 minutes. In a boiling pot, cook pasta for 6-8 minutes then drain it. In a glass baking pan (either 8-9" round or 9" rectangle) layer ingredients like lasagna (sauce, pasta, ricotta, mozzarella). Repeat.

Top off with Parmesan or Romano cheese, and bake for 45 minutes.

Why Natalia Loves It:

I have many favorite foods, but baked penne is definitely at the top of the list. I love baked penne because, to start off with, it smells and looks amazing and can be made many different ways; it’s an abundance of noodles, tomato sauce, meat and cheese—what’s not to like? I love to share it with my close family members during dinner, or as a late night snack/meal with my dad (sometimes it tastes even better the second day). Baked penne is also the choice meal for my mom to cook prior to her leaving me, my brother, and my dad alone when she travels out of town. She leaves knowing that at least her children will be fed and happy.