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ZITI BAKED WITH SPINACH, TOMATOES AND SMOKED GOUDA

A MEATLESS MEAL: Skip meat tonight and prepare ziti baked with spinach, tomatoes and smoked Gouda. Serve with a red- tipped lettuce salad and garlic bread. Pears are for dessert. Plan ahead: Save enough baked ziti for another night ( see recipe, Page 7).

Ingredients

10 ounces ziti pasta

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 ( 14 1/ 2- ounce) cans undrained diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano

6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

1 1/ 4 cups ( about 5 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda, divided

Servings: makes 8 servings Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: about 30 minutes, plus pasta

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions; drain. Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium- high. Add onion and pepper; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add spinach; cook 30 seconds or until spinach wilts, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add pasta and 3/ 4 cup cheese to tomato mixture, tossing well to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into a 9- by- 13- inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with remaining cheese. Bake 15 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

Per serving: 267 calories, 12 grams protein, 7 grams fat ( 24 percent calories from fat), 3.5 grams saturated fat, 39 grams carbohydrate, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 591 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.

Carb count: 2.5.