Company Casserole

Tomato Sauce Layer

tablespoons olive oil

pound lean ground beef

to 4 large cloves garlic (to taste)

(6 ounce) can tomato paste

(28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

teaspoon dried oregano leaf

tablespoon dried basil (or to taste)

small bay leaf

Cheese and Onion Layer

ounces cream cheese, softened

cup cottage cheese

/4 cup sour cream

/3 cup thinly−sliced green onions,

white and light green part only

Spaghetti Layer

tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil

/2 pound dry spaghetti noodles

Make the tomato sauce layer first: heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium

heat in a large saucepan. Add ground beef, breaking into small pieces and stirring occasionally until

browned. Add garlic and onion and sauté until onion is transparent. Add tomatoes, tomato paste,

oregano, basil and bay leaf. Cover with pan lid ajar to let some steam escape and simmer at least 30

minutes, and up to 3 hours to let flavors develop.

Add water (or a little red wine) if necessary to keep the sauce from getting too dry. Remove the bay leaf

before assembling the casserole. Make spaghetti according to package directions, adding 1tablespoon

of olive oil to the boiling water to keep noodles from sticking together. Cook until al dente (firm, not

mushy) and drain well.

While spaghetti is cooking, make creamy cheese and onion layer by mixing the cream cheese, cottage

cheese, sour cream together in a food processor or blender until smooth and well combined. Stir in the

green onions. Oil a large bowl or 2−quart casserole with 2 teaspoon olive oil. Preheat oven to 350

degrees F.

Assemble casserole by adding 1/2 of spaghetti noodles to bottom of casserole, drizzle with about 1/2

tablespoon olive oil, top with 1/2 of creamy cheese and onion mixture, then 1/2 of tomato sauce. Repeat,

ending with tomato sauce on top of casserole. Poke a dinner knife into the finished casserole in 4 to 6

places and wriggle it around to allow some of the tomato sauce to work its way into the noodle and

cheese layers. Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.

Company Casserole

126

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