Pasta Pie As Easy At 1-2-3

Speed-scratch cooking is an easy way to cook using convenience foods and fresh ingredients. It takes away some of the stress and makes wholesome, homemade dishes a reality even on the busiest of days.

1-2-3 Pasta Pie is simple to make with just a few ingredients: fresh ground beef, your pasta of choice from the pantry, pre-shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese and prepared spaghetti sauce.

Top the dish with green pepper rings, to add bright color and crunch. While the pie bakes, fix a simple salad with convenient packaged salad greens.

1-2-3 Pasta Pie

Recipe from Dairy Management Inc.

2-1/2 cups hot cooked pasta, such as elbow macaroni, penne, rigatoni, mostaccioli or mostacciolini

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons butter

1-1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

1 pound lean ground beef

1-1/4 cups prepared spaghetti sauce

1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves

1 small green pepper, thinly sliced into rings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine pasta, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese and butter; toss. Press into buttered 9-inch pie plate or 9-inch baking dish. Top with 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese.

In medium skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and oregano; mix well. Spoon meat mixture over pasta. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Return to oven just to melt cheese. Garnish with green pepper.

Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 424 calories, 27 grams protein, 23 grams fat (48 percent fat calories), 27 grams carbohydrate, 307 milligrams calcium.