4 oz. ground beef
2 tsp. vegetable or olive oil
1/2 c. diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
2 c. canned crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp. each basil leaves, salt, pepper
1/8 tsp. oregano leaves
1 c. cooked ziti
1 oz. thinly sliced Provolone cheese, cut into strips

Shape beef into a patty; on rack in broiling pan, broil meat turning once, for about 7 minutes. Crumble beef and set aside. In 1 1/2 quart saucepan, heat oil; add onion and garlic and saute until onion is softened. Add mushrooms, parsley and crumbled beef and saute for about 5 minutes; stir in tomatoes and seasonings and let simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stir ziti into beef mixture and spoon mixture into shallow 1 quart flameproof casserole; top with cheese strips and bake until mixture in heated through, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn oven control to broil and broil until cheese is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

Makes 2 servings.