Week 36: Recipe #3--Spaghetti Casserole with French Fried Onions

Okay, I'll admit this sounded pretty strange, but I wanted to try it.  It was really good!  I found this recipe on a site called Salad in a Jar (see link below).  It is super easy to make, most of the ingredients are already on-hand, and we all liked it.  We'll be having this again.  I followed the recipe exactly, except I didn't pay attention to the part where you're not supposed to put the onions on top until 5 minutes before it's done baking.  I put them on for the whole 25 minutes and they didn't burn or turn soggy.  They were fine.  I served this with a green salad.  Makes 10 servings.

Photo from Salad in a Jar

You'll Need:

• 8 oz. uncooked spaghetti
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 large can spaghetti sauce (26.5 oz.)
• 1 Tblsp. butter
• 1/2 c. chopped green or red bell peppers (I used red--easier to hide from the kids)
• 1/3 c. chopped onions
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2 Tblsp. milk
• fresh grated parmesan cheese
• small can of french fried onions

Preparation:

1. Cook spaghetti according to directions on the package.  Cook to al dente; drain and set aside.
2. Brown the ground beef; drain excess grease.  Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and heat.
3. Combine onions, peppers, and butter in small glass bowl.  Cover and microwave 4 minutes on high until soft.
4. Add cream cheese and milk to vegetables and stir well.  If the cream cheese is not soft, microwave it for 20-30 seconds to make it easy to spread.
5. Using a 13 x 9 baking dish, assemble in the following order: thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish, spaghetti, cream cheese mixture, spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese (amount subject to your own taste),  and french fried onions (added during last 5 minutes of cooking--but seemed to work okay added prior to that as well).
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Top with french fried onions and continue baking for 5 more minutes--don't let them burn.

**Note:  You can also make this ahead and refrigerate or freeze without the french fried onions, and then add them later.

Recipe and link:  http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/family-recipes/scooters-spaghetti