Baked Ziti (Out of this World!!)

This recipe is definitely going on our family's list of favorites. I adapted it from a recipe on the back of a hunt's spaghetti sauce can. It is so delicious. To use a phrase from Mary Poppins, "Practically perfect in every way!" I hope your family enjoys it as much as ours did!

Baked Ziti

1/2 lb. Italian Sausage (it has to be Italian flavored - it makes a HUGE difference)
1/4 C. TVP (textured vegetable protein) soaked in water for 10 min and drained*
1/2 -1 C. Chopped vegetables of your choice (yellow squash, zucchini, etc.), optional
3 C. Spaghetti Sauce (I used a 26 oz. can of Hunts chunky vegetable sauce since I was in too big of a hurry to make my own)
1 Alfredo Sauce Seasoning package and ingredients for the sauce (or use 1 C. prepared Alfredo sauce)
1 C. Pureed Hubbard or Pumpkin Squash
16 oz. Pkg. Ziti or Penne
3 C. Mozzarella Cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 425 F. Brown Sausage. Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions (until just barely done) and drain. Add TVP to sausage. Then add chopped vegetables and cook until tender. Turn off heat and add spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, pureed squash and 1/2 the mozzarella cheese. Dump noodles into 9x13" dish and pour sauce mixture over and mix together. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake 10 min.

*As a variation, you can use a cup or two of your favorite cooked grain (brown rice, quinoa, etc.)