Baked Ziti

2 pounds lean ground beef

2 tablespoons instant minced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced (I use the minced garlic in a jar)

2-3 tablespoons parsley flakes

2 jars Ragu marinara sauce

2 cans (15 oz) tomato sauce

Savory Garlic Philadelphia Cooking Creme

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Oregano

1 teaspoon Basil leaves

1-2 bay leaves, crushed

1 pound ziti, cooked and drained

Shredded Italian Blend or Mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Fry the beef, minced onion, garlic and parsley flakes. Drain on paper towels to remove any grease.

Pour the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, basil leaves and bay leaves into a 5 qt dutch oven. Add one or two heaping dollops of the Philadelphia cooking creme to the sauce. Stir to melt the cooking creme. Warm sauce while the beef is frying and/or the ziti is cooking.

Add beef mixture to sauce and continue warming. Add ziti to warm sauce. Stir gently to coat the noodles with the sauce. Spray baking dish with cooking spray.

Pour half the sauced ziti into baking dish, top with cheese. Add more sauced ziti and top with more cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.