Baked Ziti and Sausage

Ingredients:
3 ups of uncooked ziti or other small tubed pasta
1/2 pound Italian sausage links
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 Tsp salt, divided
1/4 Tsp plus 1/8 Tsp pepper, divided
2 cups milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups (16 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
1 Tbl minced fresh parsley
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
paprika


Directions:
1.  Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain; place in large bowl.  In a small skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and cut into 1/2-in slices
2.  In a saucepan, melt butter.  Stir the flour, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp of pepper utnil smooth; gradually add milk.  Bring to boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from the heat; stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.  Pour over pasta; toss to coat.
3.  Combine the egg, cottage cheese, parsley, and remaining Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.  Spoon half of the pasta mixture into a greased 2 1/2 qt baking dish.  Top with cottage cheese mixture.  Add the sausage to the remaining pasta mixture; spoon over top.  Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and paprika.
4.  Bake, uncovered @ 350' for 30-35 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160'


Yields: 6 servings