Baked Ziti

So we all know I am not exactly a chef. Cooking is not something I do well and I am trying to get better at it. Tonight I tried baked ziti for the second time in my life. The first time being a few years ago where I managed to serve a baked ziti that was uncooked in the middle and burned on the outside. This time was not as bad, but still not good. I don't know if it was the recipe I used or what, but it really didn't taste all that great. Which is a shame since I really like baked ziti and I'm wondering how I can manage to mess up such a deceptively easy recipe. Any thoughts or suggestions people?? I'm willing to try again, but I'm getting just a wee bit frustrated.