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Nov

spaghetti feast ~ menu idea

This is another menu idea rather than an exact recipe. I will try to share our homemade spaghetti sauce in another post.

Basically you will need

your choice of cooked pasta it doesn’t have to actually be spaghetti
your choice of sauce, homemade is better
Italian blend grated cheese
Parmesan cheese, the grated kind in the cooler is better than the ground up stuff in the can
bread homemade is best, slice it thick
butter
olive oil
finely chopped fresh garlic
fresh prepared salad

Prepare a spread for the bread using butter, olive oil, grated Parmesan and the garlic. Spread on each slice and broil just lightly.

On each plate add some cooked pasta, the top with sauce. Add some grated cheese, then sprinkle some Parmesan on top of that. If you have some fresh oregano or even parsley sprinkle a bit of it diced up on top. Green stuff always makes it look gourmet. Add your bread and a side salad, and prepare to be pleased!

This is just a menu idea would you like to see it made into an ebook with step by step instructions and pictures?

Category: big family meal, bookstore, italian, main dish Tags: garlic bread, Italian meal, spaghetti Leave a Comment

Apr

cooking tip – spices

Penny

Using spices in your cooking gives dishes authentic flavors,

for Mexican dishes use cilantro, and peppers

for Italian dishes use oregano and olive oil

Category: cooking tip, italian, mexican style Leave a Comment

Jul

spaghetti pie

Penny

This is one of our family favorites and absolutely yummy. Not exactly frugal or low cal, but a definite celebration meal. We actually make a huge pan of this, but I will narrow it down here for reasonable amount. This would probably serve 4-6.

sauce ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion diced
1/2 bell pepper diced
1 clove garlic, diced small
1 t.. Italian spice or fresh
large can tomato sauce

filling

8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
2 C cottage cheese

crust

small box of spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 T. butter
2 eggs beaten
2 oz parmesan cheese, shredded or grated

topping

2 oz parmesan cheese shredded or grated
sliced peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni or anything you like

Start by making your sauce, brown meat and vegetables in a skillet and when well cooked add tomato sauce and let simmer. While that is simmering, make your crust, cook your pasta and drain and then add the butter and beaten eggs and 2 oz of parmesan cheese. Mix well and spread in a buttered baking dish. Then spoon in half of your filling ingredients, spreading well. Then add half of your sauce, spreading well. Repeat filling, repeat sauce. Then top with 2 oz of parmesan cheese and whatever toppings you might like. Bake at 350 until bubbly.

Great with garlic bread and salad.

Category: italian, main dish Tags: cooking, food blog, Italian food, pasta, recipe 6 Comments

Jul

Italian Pasta bake

Penny

This is like a budget version of Spaghetti Pie, I will post that recipe soon. But this is a good one too and lots less expensive. It is very simple and you can just use the amounts for your family size.

Cooked pasta, cooked and drained
chunky spaghetti sauce
grated Italian blend cheese 8 oz or so

Mix your pasta and sauce in a bowl then add to a buttered casserole dish, then place cheese on top and bake until cheese is bubbly. That is all. Super simple but a little better than plain spaghetti.