Macaroni Pizza

Er – where were we? Ah yes, whether the family is spending the long holidays in a beach house or the kids are going to camp or whatever else they may be doing through the rest of July and all of August, they’re bound to develop healthy appetites. One sure way to please without wrecking the family budget is to make what children I know call “Macaroni Pizza”.Yes, I know we’ve featured this dish before, but most kids I know love it (because it tastes like pizza, but it’s much easier and quicker to make). I can guarantee that if your kids like pizza they’ll like this made with:

8 ozs farfalle (or macaroni broken to 2” lengths)

Salt

1 - 2 medium onions, chopped

3-4 large pegs garlic crushed and chopped fine

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

A half cup of water

1 large or 2 small sweet peppers, chopped

1 can (about 14 ozs) tomatoes - or fresh tomatoes,

peeled and chopped

1 6-oz can tomato paste

1 - One and a half teaspoons dried oregano leaves

A quarter teaspoon pepper

12 ozs cheddar cheese

METHOD

Cook the pasta (farfalle or macaroni) in boiling, salted water for about 12 minutes (no more!). Drain and place it in a buttered (greased) 2-quart Corning Ware casserole or loaf pan (I use a glass meat loaf pan when making this dish).

While the pasta is cooking make the sauce by melting the butter or margarine in a saucepan, add the onion and garlic and allow to brown slightly.

Add the water, 1 teaspoon of salt, the sweet pepper, canned tomatoes (cut up and with all the liquid in the can), tomato paste, pepper and oregano; bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes while you prepare the cheese.

Cut 8 thin slices of cheese; grate the remainder and add to the pasta.

Pour the sauce over the pasta and mix all together gently.

At this point I usually shake a little more dried oregano leaves over the top before placing the slices of cheese on top to finish the dish.

Bake in a moderate (325 degrees Fahrenheit) oven for about 45 minutes.

Serve with a green salad - serves 4

Note: You can prepare this dish in advance. Have all the ingredients ready prepared, cooked and mixed – except for the cheese slices which you can keep separate on a plate covered with wax paper.

Cover both the sliced cheese and the prepared dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to cook Macaroni Pizza simply put the sliced cheese on top and adjust the cooking time to 1 hour. Bon appetit!