Anonymous
07/30/2025 02:38
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
We called it "mostaccioli" growing up. All the midwest Italian families served it at the Catholic church suppers, weddings, and funerals.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 02:13
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
And, it makes a ton!
Anonymous
07/30/2025 02:11
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
I think it’s hilarious that everyone is so surprised how easy it is to actually cook after they watch a Youtubr or TikTok video of someone telling them how to make it. If you can read you can probably make a most of the dishes you eat in restaurants. The recipes are all online - with multiple methods, substitutions, additions, and comments of 500 people who tried it and can tell you what works and dues not.
And even before the internet the Ziti recipe has been on the box of pasta!!
And even before the internet the Ziti recipe has been on the box of pasta!!
Anonymous
07/30/2025 01:41
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
If anyone now has a hankering for ziti, this is a great recipe:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020811-cheesy-baked-pasta-with-sausage-and-ricotta?unlocked_article_code=1.aU8.60gG.zmKXP94k1-Zh&smid=share-url
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020811-cheesy-baked-pasta-with-sausage-and-ricotta?unlocked_article_code=1.aU8.60gG.zmKXP94k1-Zh&smid=share-url
Anonymous
07/30/2025 01:04
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
When I make baked ziti there is:
ziti shaped pasta
tomato sauce
ricotta
mozarella
No meat.
ziti shaped pasta
tomato sauce
ricotta
mozarella
No meat.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 01:01
Subject: Re:Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
I didn’t know there’s ricotta in baked ziti. Baked ziti sounds like lasagne, but using a different pasta and less meat.
I’m not Italian. I grew up in Ohio. We had Johnny Marzetti instead of baked ziti.
I’m not Italian. I grew up in Ohio. We had Johnny Marzetti instead of baked ziti.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 22:30
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It’s basically an Italian American mac and cheese — but far easier to make. And there’s no way to screw it up. Amazing.
Actually it’s really easy to screw up. If the proportions are wrong or it’s overbaked the ricotta gets all dry and curdy. So gross. Stuffed shells are even worse for this — almost no one can get them appropriately creamy. Maybe because people use reduced fat ricotta?
We ate ziti all the time growing up but never the thing Americans refer to as baked ziti. We often did it with home mad red sauce and a mix of hot and sweet sausage. I feel like at some point they started selling penne instead of ziti, but in the 70s, ziti was more common than penne. I think the only real difference is that penne ends are angled like a quill. The penne might also be skinnier.
There's really no need to bake it. I don't see any point in baking it. If you really want to brown some mozzarella on top, just broil it for a couple minutes. But really, shredded mozzarella can melt if the pasta is hot enough anyways, so even broiling is honestly unnecessary. I don't even think the mozzarella is needed on top.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 21:53
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
You’re not alone, OP. I’ve had baked ziti on occasion, probably college dorm food, but I’ve never made it and couldn’t have told you what was in it other than pasta and red sauce. Didn’t know about the cheese. I rarely ate Italian food growing up and don’t cook it now other than pasta with basil pesto. My family is Jewish and didn’t live in an Italian-heavy area so no exposure. We ate a humongous amount of Chinese food though!
Anonymous
07/29/2025 20:46
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:It’s basically an Italian American mac and cheese — but far easier to make. And there’s no way to screw it up. Amazing.
Actually it’s really easy to screw up. If the proportions are wrong or it’s overbaked the ricotta gets all dry and curdy. So gross. Stuffed shells are even worse for this — almost no one can get them appropriately creamy. Maybe because people use reduced fat ricotta?
We ate ziti all the time growing up but never the thing Americans refer to as baked ziti. We often did it with home mad red sauce and a mix of hot and sweet sausage. I feel like at some point they started selling penne instead of ziti, but in the 70s, ziti was more common than penne. I think the only real difference is that penne ends are angled like a quill. The penne might also be skinnier.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 20:24
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:Ziti is the shape of the pasta.
+1.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 20:19
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:Ziti is the shape of the pasta.
OP means Baked ziti, which is essentially lasagne; different pasta, nearly identical ingredients and flavor profile.
Baked Ziti is on the DCUM Mount Rushmore along with lasagna, meatballs, and pigs in a blanket. Pigs In A Blanket is the George Washington of DCUM food.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 20:06
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Oh I love baked ziti. I wish DH and DS did!
Anonymous
07/29/2025 19:57
Subject: Re:Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:So maybe even a lesser known fact, but it is a very popular dish for people in PA to take to picnics. It is definitely a favorite of my kids. They like oregano added to it and definitely mozzarella on top.
Ha, I'm from PA and remember my college roommate serving baked ziti when she was newly married and had the rest of us still-single former roommates over. It seemed a very grown-up thing to serve at the time, even though we're all some fraction Italian and grew up with it.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 19:57
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
It’s basically an Italian American mac and cheese — but far easier to make. And there’s no way to screw it up. Amazing.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 19:55
Subject: Am I the only middle aged mother who didn’t know “ziti” is just red/meat sauce and ricotta?
Anonymous wrote:I understood her post to mean the dish called Baked Ziti.Anonymous wrote:Ziti is the shape of the pasta.
Correct