Baked Spaghetti

Like all my recipes, this is one I found and then made adjustments to it for my own liking. I really like this one because it is super simple and can be made up, then stuck in the freezer for later use.

Baked Spaghetti

1 pound of spaghetti, cooked

1 pound of sausage, cooked and drained
1 can spaghetti sauce, your favorite kind
2 small cans of tomato sauce
Italian seasoning, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes to taste

1 pound of small curd cottage cheese
1 pkg of cream cheese
Parsley flakes, to taste
2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese

4 tbsp butter

Shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese for top

Mix together your sausage and sauces, in the pan you used to cook the sausage (a large skillet). I always add a few more seasonings and I would tell you how much, but I just shake it in till it looks right. I would say that it is about 2 to 3 tsp of the Italian seasoning and garlic powder, but as I tell my students, add less and taste, because you can always add more, you can't take any of it away. So tasting is key here. I also like things spicy, so I use hot italian sausage and the red pepper flakes. Let simmer on the stove for about 10 minutes, just to let those spices work into the sauce.

While the sauce is simmering, mix your cottage cheese, cream cheese, parsley flakes (again I just eye ball it, about 1 tbsp) and parmesan cheese together till smooth.

When your pasta has been drained and cooled, place half of it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Next, spread the cheese mixture on top of the pasta. Top the mixture with the remaining pasta. Take your butter and spread it over the pasta. Next, spread your sauce over the pasta. Top with shredded cheeses. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

Here is my favorite part of this recipe. It freezes really well. I take the recipe and divide it up into small pans (since it is pointless to make this entire pan for myself) and prepare it the same way, except I leave off the cheese at the top. I then cover it with plastic wrap, and then tinfoil. I stick it in the freezer. When it is time to cook, I just leave everything on and place it right into the cold oven. I then turn on my oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 1 hour. Then I take off the tinfoil and plastic and cover with shredded cheese and bake for about another 15 minutes.

I am sorry I don't always have exact measurements, but my sister wanted this recipe and I haven't had time to make it to check out the measurements. I will try and remember to fix that the next time I make it, but most likely I will be in a hurry and forget. I hope you enjoy this one.