Acadian Beef Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup diced peeled carrot
1 1/2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 lbs ground chuck or 1 1/2 lbs very lean hamburger
20 small mushroom caps
1/2 cup sherry wine
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (17 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 (8 ounce) package small shell pasta
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1/2 cup fresh bread, cubes buttered
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

Heat the oil in a large skilled and saute onion, garlic, carrot, celery and mushrooms for about 5 minutes until onion is golden.
Add beef and cook stirring continuously until no longer red.
Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, sherry, salt, pepper, oregano, basil.
Simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 hours.
Cook macaroni and spinach as per package directions.
Drain well and add to sauce.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place mixture in a 3 quart casserole dish.
Top with bread cubes and cheddar cheese.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.