Baked Ziti

This is a delicious recipe. It is super easy and so yummy!

2 medium cloves of garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press
3 tb of olive oil
2 tbs basil leaves
Salt
1 pound ziti or other tubular pasta
8 oz mozzarella shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 tbs oil and the garlic in a medium saute pan over medium heat until fragrant but not brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes; simmer until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and salt to taste.

Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tb salt and the pasta. Cook until almost al dente but still a little firm to the bite. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot with the reserved liquid. Stir in the tomato sauce.

Brush a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with the remaining tb oil. Pour half the pasta into the dish. Sprinkle with half the the mozzarella and half and half the Parmesan cheese. Pour the remaining pasta into the dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake until the cheese golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.