Just one of those days...

Ever have a day when you just don't feel like cooking? Sure you do. What mom in her right mom doesn't? Working moms, stay at home moms. It all works.

Now, I, like other Moms have previously reached for the takeout menu or frozen convienience meals. However, do you realize how bad this is for your family AND your budget? Minimizing going out is a great way to decrease your outlay. Making homemade freezer meals can do the same, in addition to adding a healthy variation to your diet.

One of my most favorite meals to make-ahead and freeze is ziti. The recipe I have makes two large trays, and I always end up freezing 3/4 of the profits. Feel free to use lowfat and fatfree wherever desired, but you will give up some of the flavor.

Baked Ziti

1/4 cup olive oil
2 large cans of tomato sauce (28 oz or so)
1 small can of paste
3-4 cloves of garlic (less if you prefer) minced or crushed.
salt & pepper to taste.
2 16 oz tubs of ricotta
2 pounds of dried ziti
mozarella.

In large saucepan, heat olive oil and garlic. Cook for a minute or two. Add sauce and paste, heat up and blend well.

Cook up ziti according to instructions. Keep each pound separate or divide after cooking.

To each pound of ziti add one tub of ricotta and half the sauce. Place in 9 by 13 cassarole dish and top with mozarella. (You should have two trays of ziti.)

Bake at 350 degrees for about thirty minutes, covered to prevent ziti from drying out.

When cooled to room temperature, place in containers and freeze in serving sizes appropriate for your family. Just warm up from frozen, or thaw before reheating.

Another great idea for these leftovers is lunch the next day. The ball and chain will often grab one of the tubs out of the freezer and eat off of it for the next two days or so.