- Steve’s Easy Italian Dinner
- by Steve Hicks
As a single guy, I came up with this recipe just to impress the ladies. Of course, I often serve this whenever I have "the guys" over for dinner, as well. It's fast, easy and delicious!
- 1˝ to 2 pounds lean ground beef (chuck or round)
- 2 14.5oz cans of Italian recipe chopped tomatoes
- 2 8oz cans of tomato sauce
- 1 4.5oz jar of sliced mushrooms, drained
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
- ˝ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup finely diced celery
- 2 Tbsps Italian seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 16oz package mostacciolli, penne or ziti pasta (little tubes)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Brown the ground beef and drain in a bowl lined with paper towels. Set aside. Sauté the garlic, onions and celery for five minutes in a little olive oil. (You can use the same skillet). Combine the cooked ground beef with all remaining ingredients except the pasta and cheese. Simmer for 30-45 minutes.
Cook pasta according to package directions and thoroughly drain. Always add 2-3 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil to the boiling water when cooking pasta to keep it from sticking together. Make a "nest" of cooked pasta on each person’s plate and ladle the meat sauce in the middle. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with bread sticks and a fresh green salad.