Publix Apron's Baked Ziti

Oh how I miss Publix! It is the only thing I really miss about not living in the south (besides my family and friends, of course). One of the things I loved at Publix were the Apron's meals. They were always good, easy, and they kept all the ingredients you needed for them together. I also loved that were side suggestions. If you live by near a Publix and haven't tried the Apron's meals- DO, you won't regret it. Anyway, I have been making this recipe for years, and it is always a crowd pleaser.

Baked Ziti

Ingredients
1 pound ground round
one 4-ounce can diced chiles
1 cup frozen diced onion (I just use a medium onion)
sone 26-ounce jar tomato basil pasta sauce (0r whatever you have on hand)
one 14 1/2-ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 tablespoon pesto
12 ounces dry ziti pasta (approximately 3/4 box)
vegetable cooking spray
3 cups fancy shredded Italian blend cheese

Steps
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Fill one saucepan 3/4 full with hot water. Cover and place on high heat to boil for pasta.
3. In second saucepan over medium-high heat, add ground round, chilies and onion. Cook until meat is browned, breaking up meat as it cooks. Drain well.
4. Add pasta sauce, canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning and pesto into the saucepan, and mix well. Reduce heat to simmer.
5. Check pasta water for boil. When boiling, add ziti and cook per packagedirections for al dente (about 9 minutes) and drain.
6. Spray baking dish with cooking spray.
7. Pour ziti into baking dish, top with sauce, mix to coat all pasta. Cover with shredded cheese, place in oven and bake approximately 12-15 minutes. (Makes 8 servings.)

Thai-Style Ground Beef

One of my new favorite things to cook and EAT is a recipe I tried from my http://www.just-cook-already.blogspot.com/. It is wonderful! I do recommend buying coconut milk from an Asain market if possible, and the curry paste as well! My husband, and even my 4 year old LOVE this!!

olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced leek (I used a green onion)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground sirloin (I used lean ground beef, and will be trying it with ground turkey soon!)
1 teaspoon red curry paste (I used more, nearly a tbs.)
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup light coconut milk (I buy Savoy brand coconut cream)
1 Tbsp brown sugar (I added another tbsp.)
1/4 teaspoon lime zest (omitted this)
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp asian fish sauce (omitted this as well)
cooked rice and/or iceberg lettuce wedges (I used romaine leaves, as I do not buy iceberg)
chopped cilantro
heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. drizzle olive oil. add leek; sauté 5 minutes. add garlic; sauté 1 minute. add beef; cook 7 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring to crumble. stir in curry paste and tomato sauce; cook until half of liquid evaporates (about 2 minutes). add milk and next 4 ingredients (through fish sauce); cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. serve with the rice and lettuce wedges. garnish with cilantro.