Tutorial Tuesday ~ An Easy Crowd Pleaser: Mock Lasagna

This isn't any fancy foodie meal, but Mock Lasagna is a casserole I grew up eating and now I make for my own family. And everyone inhales it. It's an easy recipe, taking maybe 20-25 minutes to prepare and assemble everything before baking, and it's very easy to make substitutions to "healthify" or remove any ingredients you might not want in it. For example, I used only one pound of ground beef, added broccoli to the meat to get some more veggies into us, played with the spices a little, and made a separate dish without the noodles for myself since I'm currently grain-free. It's pretty hard to mess this recipe up!

Mock Lasagna
2 C uncooked elbow macaroni or rotini
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce, condensed tomato soup, or pasta sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder (I always throw in extra garlic)
1/2 C milk
1 egg
1/4-1/2 lb shredded/grated mozzarella or cheddar cheese

Prepare pasta according to package directions, and drain. Brown ground beef and onion, drain fat, add tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, and seasonings. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Beat egg, milk and remaining salt together, blend into macaroni, and spread in greased casserole dish. Cover with meat mixture and top with cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Serves 6.

submitted by Lori, alfabette zoope