Spring & Summer Ziti

Mindy Powell Family
Adapted from Rachael Ray

2 T EVOO
1 T onion flakes
3 large garlic cloves minced
2 14 oz cans stewed tomatoes
1 T Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
10-12 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced
1 pound ziti with lines
1 pound thin asparagus (trimmed and chopped into 1 1/2 inch pieces on an angle)
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese
½ pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil to cook the pasta. While the water is coming to a boil, sauté the onion flakes and garlic with 2 T EVOO over medium heat. Stir in tomatoes and crush them with a potato masher. Season the sauce with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to your taste. Cook five minutes more then stir in basil and turn off heat.
While sauce is simmering, add salt to boiling water and cook the pasta to just under al dente – it should have a nice bite left to it. After the pasta has been cooking for 5 minutes, add in the asparagus. Add frozen peas a minute before draining. Drain pasta and veggies, reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. Add ricotta and half the Parmigiano cheese to the hot pasta pot. Add the hot pasta and veggies back to the pot and stir to coat evenly. Add the pasta water.
Pour half the sauce into a large baking dish. Add all of the ziti to the dish and top with remaining sauce. Dot the top of the ziti with mozzarella and remaining Parmigiano. Place in oven until top is brown and bubbly, about 12 minutes.