A Better Marzetti

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 8 ounces rotini pasta (whole wheat)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup celery, sliced fine
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/2 green pepper, minced
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 8 ounces sweet italian sausage, casing removed
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 cups cheese, italian blend, shredded

Recipe

• 1 adjust an oven rack to middle postition. grease a 13x9 in baking dish and set aside. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 bring 4 qts water to boil in large pot. add pasta and 1 tsp salt and cook, stirring often, according to package directions. drain pasta and transfer to baking dish.
• 3 meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. brown beef and sausage until no longer pink- drain excess grease. add celery, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and 1 tsp salt and cook, stirring ocassionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. stir in garlic, oregano, pepper flakes, and 1 tsp pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• 4 stir in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook until flavors are blended, about 5 minute stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. set aside, off heat.
• 5 sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over pasta. then pour meat mixture on top of this. then sprinkle reamaining 1 cup of cheese evenly on top of meat mixture.
• 6 place baking dish on a baking sheet, covering with foil. bake in the pre-heated oven about 45 minutes, until sauce is bubbling. remove foil and bake another 15 minutes, until top is spotty brown. cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
• 7 enjoy.