Grandma’s Baked Mostaccioli

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 cups favorite red Italian sauce
1 pound package mostaccioli, cooked to package directions
6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Cook beef in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is well browned, stirring often to break up the meat, add onions and garlic, cook for additional 2-3 minutes, until onions are soft. Stir in the sauce. Stir the beef mixture and pasta together. Smear some sauce on bottom of 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Layer half the pasta, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese (drop ricotta by spoonful on top of pasta) and half of Parmesan cheese. Layer remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling and the cheese is melted.

*to desired doneness; some (like us) like crispy edges and “starting” to brown.

**other pasta, like ziti can be used as well

***Italian sausage can be used also