Baked Ziti

1 lb ziti, cooked and drained
4 cups pasta sauce (recipe follows)
1 large ball fresh mozzarella, half cubed, half sliced in thin slices
1/2 cup fresh parmesan, grated

Preheat oven to 400. Combine pasta, sauce, cubed mozzarella and half of the parmesan. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Lay mozzarella slices over the top, and sprinkle with remaining parmesan. Bake 30 minutes, until browned and bubbling.

Pasta Sauce

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb sweet italian sausages, casings removed and sausage crumbled (I used pre-cooked)
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, coarsley chopped
1 28-oz can chopped tomatoes, with juice
1 handful fresh basil, coarsley chopped
1 tsp dry thyme (or fresh if you can get it...we couldn't)
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook several minutes, until browned. Add onion and garlic. Cook andstir until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, herbs and water. Season to taste with salt, and black and red pepper. Simmer uncovered 10-15 minutes.