Spaghetti Pie

Italian food is always one of everybody's favorite dishes.  This is a great meal alone, or with a fresh salad and garlic bread. 

Spaghetti Pie Recipe

6 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 well beaten eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1 pound ground beef or pork sausage
1/2 chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain.  It should be about 3 cups cooked.  Stir butter into hot spaghetti. Stir in parmesan cheese and eggs. 
Form spaghetti mixture into a "crust" in a buttered 10 inch pie plate.  Spread cottage cheese over bottom of spaghetti.
In skillet cook ground beef or sausage, onion and green pepper until vegetables are tender. Drain off any excess fat.  Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano and garlic salt, heat through. 
Turn meat mixture into spaghetti crust.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.  Bake 5 minutes longer or until the cheese melts. 
Makes 6 servings. 

*This is a great recipe to make during the summer months, when you have fresh tomatoes and peppers available. The longer the sauce simmers the better it will taste. Its also good to mix the sausage and ground beef together.