Baked Spaghetti

This is a dish everyone will love.  The key is chopping the onions and bell peppers very small, this way the kids who think they don't like onions and bell peppers won't notice them. My inspiration these days comes from TV.  I have been recording my favorite cooking shows to watch in the middle night while I am up with the baby.  This recipe is from Paula Deen's show, but it is really Dora's recipe.  Apparently she works at Paula's restaurant and was guest on the show.  Of course I did change the recipe some, but that is how I roll!  This dish was perfect for Rowdy...he loves his noodles really soft.

My sauce...it turned out really tasty.

Spread 1/3 of the sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch dish. Spread 1/2 the cooked spaghetti over the sauce and half the cheese.

 Spread half of the sauce that is left over the cheese.

Next layer the rest of the noodles and the rest of the sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and spread with remaining cheese. Put back in oven until cheese is melted.

Hot out of the oven, let stand for 5 minutes or so before serving.

BAKED SPAGHETTI

• 3/4 lb. ground meat of your liking (I used sweet Italian sausage.  Dora used turkey, chicken and pork.  Ground beef would work excellent too.)
• 1 T. olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 c. water, swished in jar of sauce to get it all out
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 lb. thin spaghetti
• 1 cup jack cheese, grated
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Dice onion and pepper, mince garlic.  Fry and crumble Italian sausage (or meat of choice) in your saucepan with onion and pepper.  Once the veggies have softened and the sausage is cooked through, add the garlic and stir around until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Pour in spaghetti sauce, water that has been swished around in sauce jar and tomato sauce.  Simmer for at least 20 minutes. While sauce is simmering prepare spaghetti, cooking slightly al dente.  Grate cheese and set aside. Spray 13x9 inch pan with nonstick spray.  Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into the bottom of the pan and spread around.  Layer half the noodles in the pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup jack and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.  Spread 1/2 of the remaining sauce over the cheese. Next, layer the remaining noodles and then the remaining sauce.  Reserve the remaining cheese for the end of baking.  Cover with foil and place in a 350 degree oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Return to oven until cheese melts. Let stand 5 minutes or so before serving.

See Works For Me Wednesday for more fun stuff.