This is my first post writing about something I made – so please, be good to me.

 

And those are the words I said to the box of ziti, jar of tomato sauce, and 4 different types of cheeses: Please be good to me.

 

I am not “a cook”. Meaning – I don’t cook. I am awful at it. I once made a grilled cheese and forgot the bread. There is a missing gene in my body that disables me from making a decent-tasting meal. A trait, I am sure, was passed down to me from my mother.

 

Mom, if you are reading this (which we all know you are my only follower) I apologize, but, let’s face it. When your mom makes cheeseburgers and your friends ask “what type of fish is this?” you know it’s bad.

 

With it being one week after the new year, I decided that I needed to stop being so “reliable” on red meat. Over the holiday, I consumed probably two whole cows (and one tiny calf) and it made me sick and exhausted. So, for the month of January, I am giving up red meat and trying to eat more chicken and turkey.

 

So, I woke up on Sunday morning without a hangover (a miracle for a Sunday) and decided to walk the 11 blocks in the cold to the supermarket and get the supplies to make Baked Ziti. Now, I am not a huge fan of this dish, but it is easy to make, tastes pretty good, and it is large enough that I can save it in Tupperware and have it for lunch the rest of the week.

 

I picked up all five ingredients from the store – costing me only $13.75. Whoa! That’s the price of an appetizer at the Outback! “I am definitely going to save money!” I exclaimed to the cashier who only spoke Spanish, so she replied with the usual, “Si, loco” … whatever that means.