I love spaghetti enough to get a bowl of it tattooed on my arm!
SPAGHETTI IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE DISHES, LIKE LAST MEAL KIND OF FAVORITE. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HUMBLE NOODLE, TWIRLING IT ON MY FORK, THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD WHEN WE WOULD HAVE PASTA NIGHT EVERY THURSDAY AT MY GRANDMOTHERS. I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE TWO GRANDMOTHERS, A MOM AND A WIFE WHO ALL MAKE RIDICULOUSLY GOOD SAUCE OR "GRAVY" DEPENDING ON WHO'S MAKING IT. BECAUSE OF THIS I AM SOMEWHAT OF A PURIST, PREFERRING MY SPAGHETTI WITH A SIMPLE MARINARA OR RAGU. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO APPRECIATE THIS UNIQUE TWIST ON THIS DISH.....
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This recipe comes from Lieutenant Tory Williams of Pittsboro Fire and Rescue in North Carolina.
Box of wheat spaghetti noodles
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 large can of Ragu green pepper and mushroom sauce
½ green bell pepper chopped
½ sweet onion chopped
1 package of pepperoni slices
1 pack of small pepperoni salad toppers (dime size)
1 small can sliced mushrooms
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper to taste
½ cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
Boil noodles until soft. Meanwhile brown meat with peppers, onions & mushrooms. Drain excess liquid from meat and return to pan. Add sauce, garlic powder, onion powder & cayenne pepper. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes just to help mix flavors.
I then mix in the small pepperoni’s (however much you like) with the sauce. Add noodles to a 9x13 baking dish. I then cut my noodles in shorter pieces. Mix sauce mixture in with noodles and stir well. Add ¼ cup of cheddar and ¼ cup of mozzarella cheese to the noddle and sauce mixture. Stir well again and flatten it out in the baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese over dish. Top with sliced pepperoni and bake in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted to your liking (golden brown). Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing in squares. Salt & Pepper as needed. Top with grated parmesan and OMG!!!! Now I’m craving it!!
And as I am sure you know……It’s always better the next day after refrigerating all night..!!!!
Enjoy