Casserole Day

Ingredients

• 3½ lbs.Ground chuck beef
• 2 jars, 26 oz.Four-cheese tomato sauce
• 1 lb.Ziti macaroni
• 4 clovesGarlic, diced fine
• 2 stalksCelery, diced small
• 1 largeCarrot, diced small
• 1 largeOnion, diced small
• 2 tbsp.Dried parsley
• 2 tsp.Salt, or to taste
• 2 tsp.Ground black pepper
• 2 tsp.Dried basil
• As neededOlive oil

Directions

1. Brown and crumble the ground beef in a hot frying pan coated with olive oil until the pinkness is gone. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
2. In a large pot with a quarter inch of oil, sauté the onions, carrots, garlic, and celery until golden, then add the cooked meat.
3. Add the four-cheese tomato sauce, dried parsley, and dried basil. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Cook the ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, which is 2 minutes less than the package instructions.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste, then combine the ziti and the Bolognese sauce.
6. Transfer half of the ziti and meat to the casserole pan and stir until blended, then gradually add the other half until it is all blended.
7. Leave half an inch from the edge of the pan for expansion during freezing, then follow the cooling and freezing directions below.