Pizza Casserole recipe

Kids love this casserole because it has pasta shaped like wagon wheels and tastes just like pizza!

Makes: 6 servings

4 cups uncooked wagon wheel pasta (8 ounces)
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 jar (28 ounces) pasta sauce
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom pieces and stems, drained
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.

3. While pasta is cooking; cook sausage in 10-inch skillet over medium-heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain. Mix pasta, sausage and remaining ingredients except cheese in ungreased 2 1/2-quart casserole.

4. Cover and bake about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Information: 1 Serving: Calories 425 (Calories from Fat 145 ); Total Fat 16 g (Saturated Fat 5 g); Cholesterol 30 mg; Sodium 1100 mg; Total Carbohydrate 56 g (Dietary Fiber 4 g); Protein 18 g

Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 20 %; Vitamin C 16 %; Calcium 18 %; Iron 16 %

Exchanges: 3 Starch; 2 Vegetable; 1 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Special Touch
Just for fun, make six smiley faces on the top with sliced pimiento-stuffed olives for the eyes and thin strips of green bell pepper for the smiles.

Variation
Dress up this casserole when you replace the wagon wheels with an equal amount of rotini, rotelle, penne or farfalle pasta.

Substitution
Hamburger pizza more your style? Use lean ground beef instead of Italian sausage.