Beef and Pasta Bake - the Best!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 slices bacon, fat removed and finely chopped
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 500 g minced beef (1 pound)
• 440 g condensed tomato soup (14oz)
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon tomato sauce (ketchup)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 150 g spiral shaped pasta (uncooked)
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 180 (350F).

2. 2

   Heat oil in large pan; cook onion, garlic, bacon and carrot, stirring, til carrot is just tender - about 8 minutes *.

3. 3

   Add mince and cook, stirring, til mince changes colour; then add undiluted soup, tomato paste, sauce and oregano and simmer, covered, about 15 mins or til mixture has thickened slightly.

4. 4

   While beef mixture is simmering, cook pasta and drain. Stir pasta into beef mixture, then spoon into an oiled deep 8 cup capacity ovenproof dish and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 15 mins or until browned slightly.

5. 5

   *If you want to, you can add a stick of chopped celery along with the onion etc or add some mushrooms just before the mince.