I love Pinterest.  I love everything about it.  If there were a 12 step program for Pinterest, I'd probably need it.  Lately, I've found so many wonderful recipes and crafts, that I've decided to share them with you!  Recently I made a homemade baked spaghetti, that rocked my family's world.  I even have to say that it was amazing, and I am my worst critic.  Pardon the completely not professional picture as it was taken with my cell phone.

Baked Spaghetti.  January 2016

 

Yummy right? Totally.

 



Here's the recipe.

 

 

Lizzo's Baked Spaghetti

 

• 2lbs Ground Meat, browned and drained (I used ground beef, as I feel it is juicier.)
• 2 Jars of Sauce. (I personally use the store brand as I add to it, but its a good base.)
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes
• 1 box of regular spaghetti
• 2 bags of mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 bag of Colby Jack
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Large baking pan

 

 

I do need to say this before you begin.  This is not a quick dish.  I believe most dinners can be done quickly, but take your time with this one.  It is completely worth it, I promise. 

 

 

First, you'll need to grab a big skillet.  Brown and drain the meat and let it cool in a very large bowl. 

 

Next, you'll need a large pot and the stove.  Place your pot on the burner and turn the heat to low.  I know this sounds like it is going to take forever, but it is worth the wait.  Pour both jars of sauce into the pot.  Add the sugar into the sauce and stir. 

 

•  DO NOT throw away the jars.  I repeat, DO NOT THROW AWAY THOSE JARS!!!  Fill one of the jars 1/4 full of water, replace the lid and shake.  Pour the contents into the pot, and repeat with the second jar.  Completely fill the jars with water and replace the lids to use later. 

 

 

Open, and drain the excess liquid from the diced tomatoes and combine with the sauce on the stove.  This is the time consuming part.  I stirred every 15 minutes for about 3 hours.  During the time it was cooking, my girls and I played cards, and snuggled and laughed.  Take that sauce off the stove and let if cool.  Once it is no longer scorching hot, I combined the sauce and the meat in the large bowl.  I also added the two bags of mozzarella cheese.   

 

This is the really cool part.  I used the same pot to cook the noodles in as I used the sauce.  It really adds flavor to the noodles.  So gather the two jars that are left over with water in them, and add them to the now empty sauce pot.  If you need more water for the amount of pasta, add some.  Turn the heat on the stove to high.  You want a rolling boil before you add your pasta.  I used only half a box of regular spaghetti.  Once you have a rolling boil, drop the pasta in the water.  I broke my noodles in half.  Do NOT over cook your noodles.  Boil the noodles until they bend.  I boiled my noodles for 5 minutes.  Drain the noodles and rinse them with water.

 

 

Pre-heat your oven to 275 degrees. 

 

Take the large baking dish and grease it.  I use cooking spray, because, well I can.   Make sure the meat, sauce and cheese are mixed well.  It should be a "soupy" consistency.  My daughter Rebecca, complained that it was "too liquidy" and that I was going to "ruin it."  It is okay, because the not done pasta will soak up that liquid and make the dish taste amazing.  Take half of the sauce, meat and cheese mix and pour it in the bottom of the greased pan.  Place the noodles on top of the sauce.  Spoon the remaining sauce/cheese/meat mix on top.  Cover with foil and place in the oven. 

 

I let it bake for 2 hours covered.  After the dish had cooked for 2 hours, I removed the foil, covered the top with the bag of Colby Jack cheese and let it bake another 30 minutes.  It could have been 15 minutes, but hey, I was playing with my beautiful babies, Don't Judge. 

 

And that is it.  I paired the meal with a salad and some garlic bread.  My girls loved it.  My picky eaters ate everything off their plate.  Amazing.

 

If you like spicy food, add some red pepper flakes.  Or maybe, use pepper jack cheese.  I am not a spicy food person.  If you do tweek this recipe to make it your own...Let me know!  I love feedback.  If you hate this recipe and think it's a tragic fail, let me know as well.  My email address is lizzo.loves.blog@gmail.com

 

Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.

 

 

Love Lizzo