Mom's Pasta al Forno

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion , sliced
• 3 cans tomato puree , 15 ounce
• 4.25 cups water , or to taste
• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 6 leaves fresh basil

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion; saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomato puree and water; cook for 10 minutes. Stir in sugar and basil. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. 2

   While the sauce is cooking, bring a very large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.

3. 3

   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Add ground beef to cooked pasta. Mix in enough tomato sauce to lightly coat the pasta.

4. 4

   Mix ricotta cheese and water in a bowl until it reaches a spreadable consistency.

5. 5

   Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

6. 6

   Spread a ladleful of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Add 1/2 of the pasta, all of the ricotta cheese, peas, and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese. Layer the sliced eggs on every section of the pasta; cover with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Pour remaining pasta, Parmesan cheese, sauce, and mozzarella on top. Cover with aluminum foil.

7. 7

   Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and bubbly, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting, so slices don't fall apart.