Frugal Recipes 

Michelle's Meals on a Budget
(featured column)

Classic Baked Penne Casserole
Copyright © 2002 by Michelle Jones, editor of BetterBudgeting.com

Next time you plan to make your usual spaghetti dinner for your family, try this delicious casserole recipe instead.  It's still very frugal and can feed a crowd, the only extra expense will be for 2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Remember to buy the store brand and wait 'til it goes on sale.

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Ingredients:

8 ounces of Penne pasta, cooked and drained

1/2 pound ground beef, cooked and drained (add some spices while cooking if desired)

1 26-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce (or about 3 cups of your homemade sauce)

2 c. Mozzarella cheese, shredded (you can also add a little parmesan cheese if you have it on hand)

Parsley, dried or fresh and chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

* In a large bowl, mix together cooked pasta, beef, sauce and 1 c. of the shredded cheese.

* Place pasta mixture into baking dish and cover with lid or aluminum foil.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.

* Take dish out of the oven and remove cover, top with remaining 1 c. of shredded cheese and sprinkle with parsley.  Bake for another 8-10 minutes.

Makes 4-6 servings.  This recipe can be double easily and cooked in a 10x13 baking pan.

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