2day's recipe: Beef Lombardi

This is one of our favorite family dinner night recipes.  Enjoy :-)

Beef Lombardi

Ingredients

1 12oz package medium egg noodles
1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
1 (14 1/2-oz.) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sour cream
4 green onions chopped
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded Italian six-cheese blend

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare egg noodles according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, sprinkle ground beef with 1 1/4 tsp. salt and Italian seasoning. Cook beef in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink.

3. Stir in tomato paste, and cook 2 minutes; stir in tomatoes, 1/2 cup water, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 8 minutes.

4. Microwave cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 20 seconds. Stir in sour cream and green onions. Stir cream cheese mixture into hot cooked noodles.

5. Place noodle mixture in bottom of a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Top with beef mixture; sprinkle with shredded Italian cheese.

6. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.


Yields: 6 Servings

Source:  Charlotte Skelton, Cleveland, Tennessee, Southern Living

notes: Note: To lighten, substitute low-fat or fat-free sour cream and 2% reduced-fat cheese.