A number of years ago, Nancy and I served as Senior High Advisors in our church and often had the responsibility of feeding 15 or 16 hungry kids. I have found over the years that there are two things teenagers will always eat: pizza and spaghetti. In fact, who won’t eat those delightful dishes? Sometimes we made pizza, sometimes we ordered it, but we discovered that an easy way to serve spaghetti was in pie form. All you need is a hunk of garlic bread, a bowl of tossed salad, a couple slices of spaghetti pie and you’re in business.
This is a fairly standard recipe for spaghetti pie with a change or two. It’s really hard to go wrong.
I begin by cooking a small package of spaghetti. I believe the regular spaghetti works better than thin or angel hair because it adheres and makes a better “crust”. Boil the spaghetti (remember to add a little salt and olive oil) and put in a colander to drain.
In a large bowl, toss the spaghetti with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and a half-cup of finely shredded Parmesan cheese. Then add three well-beaten eggs and blend. This will serve as a crust. Rather than a pie plate, use a larger casserole dish and line it top and sides with the spaghetti crust. Press firmly with a spatula or wooden spoon to form the bottom and sides. Next, add a 16-ounce cup of small curd cottage cheese and spread along sides and bottom.
In a frying pan, brown 2 pounds of ground chuck, discard the grease and add a small jar of Prego spaghetti sauce and a small can of sliced black olives. Cook briefly, then add the mixture to the spaghetti crust.
Bake in a 35 oven for about 20 minutes, remove, and add a 16-ounce package of mozzarella cheese, bake 5 more minutes until the cheese is melted and serve. This dish can be pre-made, heated and served later if time is a factor – or bring it to church and watch the teenagers gorge. It is a tasty dish and easy to prepare.
Spaghetti Pie
1 8-oz. pkg. spaghetti
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 eggs, well beaten
½ cup Parmesan cheese
16-oz. cottage cheese
16-oz. Shredded Mozzarella
1 small jar Prego Spaghetti Sauce