Taco Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. oil
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. chopped green pepper
1 1/2 lb. lean ground meat
1 (1 lb. 2 oz.) can tomatoes (save 1/4 c. juice for later)
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/4 c. Karo syrup
1/2 tsp. each salt and chili powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 bay leaf
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
3 c. cooked small macaroni (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 dry will = 3 c. cooked)

Preparation

Put oil in skillet and saute the onion and green pepper. Add the ground meat and cook until done. Add tomatoes (with 1/4 cup juice reserved). Add the tomato sauce, Karo syrup and seasonings. Simmer 15 minutes. Blend the 1/4 cup tomato juice in the 2 tablespoons
cornstarch and
stir this into the meat mixture. Add the macaroni. Pour into 2-quart casserole dish. Add 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 350\u00b0. Serves 6 to 8. Can freeze.
Must do ahead.