Did you know that pasta can be used in math and math can be used in pasta? True story.
Here is a delish recipe you can make that will give you the opportunity to:
- practice chopping
- hand crush tomatoes
- use fresh herbs
- play a math game
- cook for yourself
Introducing: Baked Ziti!
Below is the recipe and a fun printable math game about logic that uses pasta. Print it out and play while you eat your homecooked food.
First things first.
1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Add some penne pasta or your favorite shape and cook for about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop up an onion. Please go slow and be careful. Thank you.
Next, pour a can of whole peeled tomatoes into a large mixing bowl. Using your bare hands, squeeze and smoosh each tomato until you have a bowl of hand crushed tomatoes. You don’t want any chunks of tomato that are larger than the pasta.
When we made this in class, the boys loved doing this. Not sure if it was because of the squirting noises or what, but there was lots of laughing go on. Cooking is fun!
You can use scissors if using your hands gives you the weebie jeebies. It shouldn’t because you need to touch your food. It’s a good, healthy way to connect with what you eat.
Next, heat a little cooking oil in a pot on medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook a few minutes until they are softened and clear.
Remove the Italian sausage from the casing and add to the onions. Cook until meat is browned, slowly stirring everything around.
Add some minced garlic
Then your beautiful hand crushed tomatoes.
Add some salt and crushed red pepper and then stir it around a few times.
Next, add some ricotta cheese.
and some shredded Parmesan. Mix well.
Add a few torn pieces of fresh basil to the pot.
Then add your cooked pasta and stir everything together.
Pour the ziti into a baking dish and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Download a Free “Use Your Noodle” Pasta Game Here
[recipe]
