What Cooking Does for Me

I feel like everyone has that one thing they do where they can escape from the chaos of everyday life and take time to enjoy just being by themselves.   Cooking allows me to do just that.  No matter how I tired I am after a long day at school I always try to find time to cook myself a good meal.  I get recipe ideas from food blogs, cookbooks, the food network, cooking light magazines, anything really.  Somehow cooking seems to be the one thing that can just take me to that place where I am completely relaxed and stress free.  If I don't get the chance to actually make something, I take a little time to sit down and  watch my favorite food network stars Giada De Laurentiis, Sandra Lee, and Ina Garten on their TV shows.  It would be a dream of mine to get to get to cook with them someday! Who knows, maybe they might stumble upon my blog and make this dream a reality :) 


I thought I'd share with everyone one of my favorite recipes from Giada De Laurentiis.
This is the best baked ziti I have ever had!

Baked Ziti 

(serves 4)

extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 egg yolk

1 cup grated pecorino romano cheese

generous pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

salt and pepper

1 lb ziti.

home-style tomato sauce

1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, cubed

1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

2)Lightly coat a 10-by-12-inch baking dish with olive-oil.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

3) Combine ricotta, egg yolk, 1/2 cup of pecorino romano, nutmeg, and parsley in a large bowl.  Season with salt and pepper. Mix to blend.

4) Generously salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook until al-dente (12-16 minutes). Drain. Put pasta in the mixing bowl with ricotta mixture. Toss well.  Add the heated tomato sauce and the mozzarella and toss again.

5) Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.  Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese over the top and drizzle with olive oil.  Bake, uncovered, until bubbling hot and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Let rest for 3-4 minutes.

ENJOY!!! :) I know you will!