My Baked Ziti Casserole

Ingredients:
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef

½ Red Onion, chopped

½ Green Bell Peeper, chopped

½ Red or Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped

1 16oz. package of Ziti Pasta or Rigatoni Pasta

2 jars of your favorite Spaghetti Sauce (I use Mushroom flavored and whatever is on sale.)

1 8oz. package fancy shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preparation:
Brown ground beef in a skillet until completely browned, adding peppers and onions when meat is about halfway done. While meat is cooking place a large pot of water on the stove to boil. After water comes to a boil add the pasta and stir. Cook according to package until pasta is "eldante". Don't overcook the pasta.

Once ground beef is fully cooked drain grease from pan. (I pour the meat into a colander to drain off the grease. If you are watching your weight or have a sensitive stomach rinse the beef under hot running water to remove more of the grease. If you are using poultry there won't be much, if any, grease.) Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel to remove more grease. Place cooked meat mixture back into the skillet and add 2 jars of spaghetti sauce. Stir to coat meat simmering sauce on a low flame. Rinse colander and use it to drain the water off the cooked pasta.

Assembly:
Place a small amount of the sauce/meat mixture into the bottom of a large casserole dish. An oblong cake pan works fine. Place 1/3 of the pasta into the pan. Spread more sauce on top and sprinkle with 1/3 of the shredded cheese. Add another layer of pasta, sauce and cheese. Then add the final layer of pasta and sauce. Stir mixture together before sprinkling the last bit of shredded cheese on top. (Layering this way helps to disperse the sauce and cheese throughout the Baked Ziti Casserole.)

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve with Garlic Bread and a Salad. Serves 6

Variations:
Substitute Ground Turkey or Chicken for the ground beef.

Try Alfredo Sauce instead of spaghetti sauce.

Substitute Ground Italian Sausage for the ground beef.

Substitute Colby Jack or Mozzarella cheese in place of the cheddar cheese.

Add shredded carrots to the skillet to add more veggies to your families diet.