weather radar: How Baked Ziti Turned Attila Away

The year was 452 and Attila the Hun was raging through Europe with his army, leaving splintered remains of kingdoms and villages in his wake. He, however, was unaware that he would soon meet his match.

Nestled away in beautiful Italy was Pope Leo I, tirelessly working in his house in Rome. He was preparing a scrumptious baked ziti casserole when he saw in the distance a cloud of dust preceded by none other than Attila the Hun.

Quickly putting the baked ziti into a corningware dish and covering it with the holy towel reserved for Mass, Pope Leo set out to meet the fearsome warrior. All of Rome watched nervously as Leo met Attila and allowed him to partake of the baked ziti. Pope Leo later reported that after eating the casserole, Attila developed pungent gas, which was considered to be a bad omen from the gods. Attila promptly wheeled his army around and left Rome untouched.

Pope Leo I saved Rome, but few today look upon the Pope in a positive light. Down through the years the true story has been misconstrued and even forgotten – all that remains is the moniker of Pope Leo the Flatulent.

Shamelessly plagiarized from The History Bluff. Is it plagiarism if I give them credit??

I shall now show you how to prepare that which defeated Attila the Hun . . .

Baked Ziti . . . this is a simple and delicious recipe that is a rich combination of sour cream, and three kinds of Italian cheese. Prepare yourself for awesomeness and a maybe even a bit of toot-toot-tootilage!

What you need:

· 1 Pound Dry Ziti Pasta

· 1 Onion, Chopped

· 1 Pound Lean Ground Beef

· 5 Cups Meat Sauce – Or Two Jars Of Commercial Sauce

· 12 Ounces Provolone Cheese, Sliced

· 2 Cups Sour Cream

· 12 Ounces Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded

· ¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread a cup of sauce on the bottom a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.