Our Favorite Meals (Healthy Addition) - Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe, so all credit goes to weightwatchers.com, but we absolutely love this healthy dish! You get plenty of food for low Points (WW) and low calories and fat.  This is the perfect comfort-food dish that's pretty easy to make!


What you need:
3/4 pound(s) raw turkey sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped (we don't like green pepper, so we just use extra peas)
28 oz canned diced tomatoes (I use Petite Diced, they're jucier)
10 oz frozen green peas, thawed (we use lots)
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp fennel seed (we omit this because it's icky and use garlic powder instead)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
12 oz whole-wheat pasta cooked according to package (we use Ronzoni Smart Taste)
6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

 And don't forget your appetite!

Preheat your oven to 350*

Cook sausage in a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, for about four minutes.

Drain off any fat, then add the onion (and green pepper if you are using it).  Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel (garlic powder for us), salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer, then reduce head and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese.

Spread evenly into a 9x13-inch pan and top evenly with remained cheese.

Bake 35-minutes or until cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling.


Apparently, we were so ready to eat it we didn't take any final pictures, but let me assure you, it looked and tasted delicious! Bon appetite! :)