Spaghetti Pie

This recipe takes a bit more work, but the results are well worth the effort! It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated in your stoneware. Just set the prepared dish out for 15 - 30 minutes before placing in hot oven to reduce the risk of it cracking.

8 - 12 oz spaghetti
2 Tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
1 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 (15 oz) jar spaghetti sauce

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and drain. Stir in butter, Parmesan cheese and egg. Lay spaghetti evenly in bottom of your 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Spread cottage cheese over spaghetti layer.

Brown ground beef, adding onion and green pepper to soften. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and mix. Layer mixture over the cottage cheese.

Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over meat and bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand a few minutes before cutting. Enjoy!

**So many options for this one to Play With Your Food! Substitute Italian Sausage in place of the hamburger. Use frozen chopped onions/green peppers to save time or use a spaghetti sauce that already has the meat and seasonings in it! Substitute low/no fat dairy ingredients, egg beaters, and low sodium spaghetti sauce. Add mushroom, olives etc. Eliminate onions and peppers.