Ziti Al Forno (From the Sopranos Family Cookbook)

• servings: 16
• active time: 1 Hour
• total time: 8 Hours

Ingredients

For The Sauce:

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 kg pork loin, pork chops, ribs and/or neck bones

• 24 meatballs

• 12 Italian Sausages

• 3 onions

• 5 cloves garlic very thinly sliced

• 1 tube tomato paste

• 1.4 kg Cirio Toscana Passata (2 Jars)

• 1 tbsp finely minced parsley

• 5 bay leaves

• Salt and Pepper to taste

To Make The Ziti:

• 500 g ziti or pene pasta

• 100 g parmigiano-reggiano cheese

• 250 g ricotta cheese

• 225 g mozzarella cheese, cut into small pieces

• Extra grated cheese, to sprinkle on top

Directions

To Make The Sauce:

1. Cook the meatballs.

2. Sprinkle pork on sides with salt and pepper.

3. Heat 4 teaspoons oil in a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place pork in the pot and cook for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a plate and cut into chunks.

4. Add sausage links to the drippings and brown for 3 minutes on each side, adding remaining oil as needed. Set aside with the pork.

5. Add onion to the drippings and season with salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.

6. Add tomato puree and crushed tomatoes, than add water and sugar; cook, stirring constantly, until smooth. Add bay leaf. Rub basil and oregano between your fingers to release the aroma and add to the sauce.

7. Slice sausages into large chunks and return to the pot with the neck bones; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add meatballs, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 hours.

8. Remove the bay leaves.

To Make The Ziti:

1. Cook the pasta.

2. Toss the pasta the sauce and stir in the ricotta cheese.

3. Spread evenly in a large oven proof dish and sprinkle with the parmigiano-reggiano and mozzarella.

4. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.