Baked Pasta

One of my really good friends, Stephanie, brought us dinner just after I had Andie.  This is what she brought and it has turned into a family favorite!

Baked Pasta with Tomatoes & Mozzarella

(aka Steph’s Pasta)

Ingredients

1 cup of any small pasta; I use salad macaroni

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1/8 cup dried parsley or ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cook pasta in salted water until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, Combine the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Place the mixture in a sprayed 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter or drizzle with olive oil. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.