Baked Ziti Casserole

Step 1: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Whisk cottage cheese, eggs, and 1 cup parmesan together in medium bowl; set aside.

Step 3: Bring 4 quarts of water to boil in large dutch oven over high heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain pasta and leave in colander (do not wash dutch oven).

Step 4: Meanwhile, brown ground hamburger with diced onion, set aside.

Step 5: Heat oil and garlic in 12 inch skillet over medium heat until garlic is fragrant but not brown, about 2 minutes.

Step 6: Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, and browned hamburger, simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1/2 cup basil and the sugar, then season with salt and pepper.

Step 7: Stir cornstarch into heavy cream in small bowl; transfer mixture to now-empty dutch oven set over medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup of your tomato sauce mixture, and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat thoroughly with sauce.

Step 8: Transfer pasta mixture to a prepared 9x13 baking dish 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.

Step 9: Remove foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer.

Step 10: NOTE: If you don't have heavy cream, whole milk can be substituted by increasing the amount of cornstarch to 2 teaspoons and increasing the cooking time in step 3 by 1 to 2 minutes. Avoid pre-shredded mozzarella cheese, as it does not melt well.