I love pasta.  I really, really love pasta.  I seriously think I could eat it every day and never tire of it.  Since my husband doesn’t really share my obsession, we don’t eat it as often as I would like, so I tend to save it for the nights he’s working and I’m just cooking for myself and the girls.  However,  I made this earlier in the week and JR really liked it too, so I guess that says something! 

The best thing about it is that it can be made with just a few ingredients, and they’re ingredients that I always have in my pantry, and it’s SUPER fast!  Total prep and bake time is just under 40 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 pound of pasta, your choice, but we like Penne
1 14 oz can Hunts tomato sauce
1/8 to 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 T sugar
1 T Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 block of mozzarella cheese, shredded
Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping.  Optional.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil pasta on stove top according to directions, stopping when pasta reaches the al-dente stage.  Don’t overcook your pasta or your final result will be mushy!  Drain pasta and pour into 13×9 casserole dish.

While pasta is cooking, combine tomato sauce, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and whipping cream in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat.  Stir to combine.  Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Pour mixture over the top of the pasta (in your casserole dish) and stir to coat pasta.

Shred a block of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle over the top of the pasta and sauce.  Bake in oven approximately 20 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted.  DO NOT let pasta get crunchy or brown. 

Once cheese is melted, remove from oven and immediately stir melted cheese into the pasta.  This coats all of the noodles with the sauce and the cheese, and the result is amazing!  Top with a little bit of grated Parmesan cheese, a big buttery slice of garlic bread, and enjoy!

Recipe by EM