Three Cheese Beef and Ziti

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet, I make it ALL THE TIME. I found the recipe in a random cookbook my Grandpa gave me right after I got married, so, that was pretty much just a few years ago. No? Almost 20 years ago? What the? Anyway, I started calling it Fake Lasagna after awhile, because that usually got a more favorable response than the actual recipe name. Please feel free to call it ANY NAME YOU WANT!!! I was super nice to my kids with no taste (you know who you are!), and only put ricotta cheese on half of it. You two are spoiled.

There is a reason why this is on my regular recipe rotation, this is fast and yummy!!



Three Cheese Beef and Ziti
Recipe from some old Reader's Digest Cookbook from five, twenty years ago.


Ingredients:

8 oz. ziti, macaroni, or other small pasta
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (of course I don't add this, are you kidding?)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
10 oz. frozen french style green beans, or whatever kind you like, partially thawed
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Directions:

Boil the pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, saute the beef and onion(bleh) in a large skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently to break up any clumps, until the beef is browned - about 5 minutes. Drain off the excess fat. Stir in the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the green beans, reduce the heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

*** Let me just take a second to confess that I don't ALWAYS add the green beans. I would love for them to be in it, but I get a lot of complaints when I do, and sometimes, I just don't want to deal with that.

Stir in the cooked ziti, then place large spoonfuls of the ricotta on top but not touching. Sprinkle the mozzarella in between. Cover and cook just until the mozzarella melts and the ziti and beans are heated through - about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.