Cooking Thursday

 I came across this recipe for a spaghetti dish that promised to be a pasta that everyone would like.  It has 4 types of cheese, sausage, fresh basil...  That sounded like a winner to me!  It's kind of a mix between lasagna and spaghetti and it was really good!  Another bonus is that it freezes well.  I made half - which was still enough for 2 meals for us, and froze the other half.

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

3/4 pound dried spaghetti noodles
2 eggs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
1 pound Italian sausage
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. ricotta cheese
24 oz. jar of marinara sauce
1/4 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large 3-quart casserole dish or 9x13 pan.
Cook Spaghetti to al dente, drain and return to pot.
In a medium sized bowl, combine the eggs, parmesan cheese and chopped basil.  Whisk until smooth.  Pour this mix over the cooked pasta, along with butter and mix until well coated.
Transfer pasta to pan.
Add ricotta and cream cheese to the pot and melt on medium heat, stirring continuously. Pour melted cheese over the noodles and smooth it out.
Add onion, garlic, bell pepper and sausage into the same skillet you have been using. Cook over medium heat until veggies are tender and meat is cook through. Drain grease.
Add marinara sauce and stir in sour cream,  Mix well and pour meat sauce over the cheese and noodles and smooth out.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top evenly.  Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.n the pot after draining the