Skip the meat this Monday.

While there are many benefits to going vegetarian, many people struggle to give up meat completely.   A great way to ease your way into a vegetarian lifestyle or simply reduce your meat intake is by participating in Meatless Mondays.   Every Monday, challenge yourself to cut out all meat from your diet.   Not only is this initiative great from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it also encourages you to be more creative in the kitchen.   Not sure what you should make for this upcoming Meatless Monday?   Then consider whipping up this delicious vegetarian recipe.

Vegetarian Baked Ziti

Serves: 6 Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ziti pasta
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. dried or fresh oregano
• 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 ½ cups fresh ricotta
• 1 (10-oz). package frozen spinach, drained and chopped
• zest of ½ lemon
• ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp. thinly sliced basil, plus more for garnish
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 °F. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until very al dente; drain.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, tomato paste, and oregano and cook 2 minutes more, until slightly darkened. Add crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Bring sauce to a simmer, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced and flavors have melded, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil.
• While sauce is reducing, stir to combine ricotta, spinach, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper flakes in a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl, combine sauce and pasta. Fold in ricotta mixture, leaving large clumps.   Spread about half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of a large casserole dish.   Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan over the pasta.   Top with the rest of the pasta mixture and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses.
• Cover with foil and bake until cheese is bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with more basil before serving.

This delicious and hearty pasta dish will make it easy to skip on the meat!   Are you looking for assistance with your mail delivery or custom courier needs this fall?   Then turn to the experts at MDS, Inc.   Located in Southern California, we're your custom courier & mail delivery service experts for all your  mail and delivery  needs in the greater Los Angeles, Long Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange County areas.  Contact us  for more information today.