Menu Monday

For the next few weeks I'll be working through the stuff in my pantry and in my freezer so we have less to move in March.

My meal plans for the upcoming week:

Monday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice and broccoli (one kit left in the pantry)
Tuesday: leftovers
Wednesday: Chili (frozen from a large batch I made a few weeks ago)
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Baked Ziti (see recipe below)
Saturday: leftovers
Sunday: Surprise Night

Baked Ziti

Ingredients:
·1 pound lean ground beef (ground chuck or ground round)
·1/2 cup chopped onion
·1 green bell pepper, chopped, about 1/2 cup
·1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
·1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
·1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil, crumbled
·1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano, crumbled
·1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or small clove garlic, minced
·1 1/2 teaspoons salt
·1/4 teaspoon pepper
·8 ounces ziti or elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
·2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Preparation:
Sauté ground beef, onion, and green bell pepper in a large skillet until onion is tender and beef is lightly browned. Drain off excess fat; add tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well; stir in ziti or elbow macaroni and 1 cup of the cheese; transfer to a 2 1/2-quart casserole. Top with the remaining cup of cheese. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
This baked ziti recipe serves 6.