SPAGHETTI PIE

Good morning.  Well, unbelievable but true, it rained here during the night and is still raining this morning. But with the rain comes warmer weather.  It will be 86 by Friday.  Ah, Southern California.  It's why we love you.

Today I am going to give you a quick one dish meal that is hearty and delicious.  Not quite something my Grandmother's may have made but let's just say, "Italian inspired."  There are a lot of ways to use left over pasta.  Sometimes you can just fry it up in a little olive oil.  If it has no sauce on it you can add an egg, a little cream, salt and pepper and fry in a little olive oil and slice into pieces and top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.  Today's recipe is one for left over pasta with no sauce on it or cook up a batch.  Either way, you will have a main dish on the table in no time.

SPAGHETTI PIE

3 cups of cooked pasta (Barilla thick) or whatever you have)
2 tbls olive oil, 1 tbls butter melted
1/2 cup parmesan
2 well beaten eggs
1 cup Ricotta
 1/2 lb of ground beef, 1/2 lb italian sausage or just 1 lb beef
1/2 chopped onion
2 to 3 cloves minced garlic
1 8 oz can cut tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
a pinch of allspice and a pinch of nutmeg
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Melt the butter and mix with the olive oil and pour over the spaghetti.  (if it is left over heat it first, if it is jut made, drain and toss with the mixture).  Stir in the parmesan and eggs.  Pour this mixture into a 9" pie plate and form a crust .  Spread the ricotta on top of this in an even layer.  In a skillet put a little olive oil and brown the garlic and the onion, being careful not  to burn.  Add the ground meat and saute until browned and crumbly.  Drain off all the drippings.  Stir in the undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, nutmeg, allspice and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.  Turn meat mixture into spaghetti "crust" and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.  Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake just until the cheese is melted.  Remove from the oven and slice like a pie.  Serve with a tossed green salad, some hot bread and of course a glass of red wine.  Quick and delicious.  I think all of your family will love this.

That is it for now.  Thanks for stopping in today.  It is gratifying to hear so many comments on my blog and to hear how many of you have made the recipes.  Thanks to all of you.

Ciao for now.
Grayce