South of the Border LeanWise Casserole

Vegetable oil spray

1 pound 93 percent lean ground beef

¾ cup diced onion

¾ cup diced sweet green pepper

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes

2 cups fat-free sour cream

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon chili powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ pound uncooked multi-grain penne or macaroni pasta (such as Barilla Plus)

Lightly spray a large non-stick skillet or 4- to 6-quart saucepan with vegetable oil and over medium-high heat brown the ground beef. Drain any fat from pan. Add onions and green pepper and cook until softened.

Stir in the jalapeno pepper, tomatoes, sour cream, sugar, chili powder and salt. Add the pasta, stir together with the beef mixture and simmer until the pasta is tender, about 20-25 minutes.

Serves four.

@Recipe nutrition:Nutrition values per serving: 585 calories (15.1 percent from fat), 9.8 g fat (3.6 g saturated fat), 81 g carbohydrates, 6.7 g fiber, 40.3 g protein, 50 mg cholesterol, 752 mg sodium.

SaltSense: Standard canned tomatoes contribute almost 34-percent of the sodium to this casserole. Substitute no-salt-added whole canned tomatoes and reduce sodium to 498 mg per serving. Omitt the added salt and sodium drops to 208 mg per serving.