This recipe is one I think my mother made up a few years ago, and has quickly become a family favorite.

Brown ground beef and set aside. Boil elbow macaroni for 5 minutes (even though package probably says to cook longer). Shred cheese. In a 2 quart casserole dish, pour enough sauce in the bottom to just cover. Top with a layer of macaroni, then a layer of beef, then a layer of cheese (an easy way to tell how much a "layer" should consist of is to visually cut the portion into thirds since there will be three layers of everything). After you complete the first layer of everything, pour some sauce. When I get to this point, if I have about 1/4 cup of sauce left in the first can, I know I have poured the right amount. Anyway, repeat layers two more times, ending with the last of the sauce being poured all over the top. You can cook it using micro alone, micro and oven to brown, or just oven. Micro method: cover loosely with plastic wrap and cook on high for approx. 13 minutes. Micro + oven (I prefer this): follow micro directions, but cook for 11-12 minutes, then brown under the broiler for a few minutes. Oven only: Cover with aluminum foil and cook at 350 for 45 minutes, then uncover and cook for 15 minutes. In all cases, let stand for a few minutes to cool a little and "set".

(Side note: original recipe had no beef in it - that was a preference I added when I started making it for myself. If you prefer no meat, recipe still stays the same in all other aspects.)