Yummm… I made this new recipe tonight. It is a Weight Watcher’s recipe, and soooo delicious! 6 points per serving.

I made a couple changes to the original which increased it by a point. It was easier than dividing my pound of meat even further! And I knew Chad would appreciate the extra 2+ oz of meat!

And I actually doubled the recipe, and put half (in 2 – 8″x8″ pans) in the freezer for later.

Baked Beef Ziti

12 oz uncooked ziti
5 sprays of olive oil spray
4 tsps garlic clove(s), minced
1/2 pound raw lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup reduced fat Italian blend cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.