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Baked Ziti with Sausage

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet or sauté pan, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the onion and sauté, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the Italian sausage and cook and stir for 5 - 6 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked through. Remove from the heat and drain off excess grease. Add the tomato puree, oregano, and basil. Cook the sauce at a steady simmer while preparing the rest of the dish.
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, salt, parsley, and parmesan. Set aside.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it is not quite al dente (it will finish cooking in the oven). Drain the pasta and add it to the ricotta cheese mixture. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Take the sauce off the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Add the sauce to the pasta and ricotta mixture and combine well.
Pour the pasta-sauce mixture into a 4- to 5-quart ovenproof baking dish. Level the top with the back of a spatula or spoon. Spread the mozzarella evenly over the pasta and bake until the cheese starts to brown and the sauce bubbles, about 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.