Ingredients

1 lb whole milk or 1 percent cottage cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 ozs parmesan (about 1 1/2 cups)

table salt

1 lb ziti

2 T olive oil

5 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 28-oz can tomato sauce

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 cup plus 2 T chopped fresh basil

1 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp cornstarch

1 C heavy cream

8 ozs low moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

Preparation

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350. Whisk cottage cheese, eggs, and 1 cup parmesan together in medium bowl; set aside. Bring 4 qts water to boil in large dutch oven over high heat. Stir in 1 T salt and pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Drain pasta and leave in colander. do no rinse dutch oven.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil and garlic in 12" skillet over medium heat until garlic is fragrant but not brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Off heat, add in 1/2 cup basil and sugar then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Stir cornstarch into heavy cream in small bowl; transfer mixture to dutch oven set over medium heat. Bring to summer and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat thoroughly with sauce.
  4. Transfer pasta mixture to 9x13 pan and spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup parmesan over top. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  5. Remove foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Cool for 20 minutes, Sprinkle with remaining basil and serve.