American Beef and Maccheroni al Forno

Madonna mia, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13x9 casserole dish - not like my marble countertop for pasta, but it will do for this American comfort food that my neighbors on Wooster Street love.

Cook the maccheroni according to the package directions until al dente - never mushy, even for a casserole! Drain and toss with butter and salt, then spread in your prepared dish.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onion, breaking it up as it cooks until no pink remains. Drain the fat - we want flavor, not grease swimming around like the boats in Palermo harbor.

Return the beef and onions to the skillet and stir in both soups, milk, pepper, and basil. Mix everything together until smooth and creamy.

Pour this sauce evenly over your pasta in the casserole dish, then top with all that beautiful sharp cheddar cheese - let it cover every corner like snow on Mount Etna.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden and the whole thing bubbles with happiness. Let it rest a few minutes before serving.