Spaghetti Pie

I love comfort food (well who doesn't), the type of food that is full of carbs and oozy with a rich sauce and cheese will of course make everything better. On a day when I'm feeling run down or stressed out it's dishes like this that keep me from running for take out. This is a delicious and different Italian recipe. It combines the best of spaghetti with meat sauce and lasagna. It's easy to throw together and pleases even the pickiest of eaters (and I know some picky ones).


Source: lightened up from a Better Homes & Garden recipe

Ingredients

4 oz uncooked thin whole wheat spaghetti
1 tbsp light butter
1/4 cup egg beaters
1/4 shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup ground meat (I used Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage Crumbles)
8 oz tomato sauce
1 cup fat free ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella
dried oregano to taste

Directions

1. Cook noodles according to package direction. While cooking spray a pie pan with Pam and preheat the oven to 350.

2. Brown meat in pan (skip this step if you are using precooked sausage like I did). Drain then combine with tomato sauce and dried oregano and simmer to let flavors combine.

3. When noodles are done drain and then return to the pot. Melt butter into noodles, once done add egg beaters and parmesan cheese stir until combined. Press into the bottom of the pie pan to form a crust.

4. Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over the noodles leaving a little room around the edge. Top with meat mixture then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for 20-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and it's bubbling around the edge.



6. Let cool for a few minutes before slicing into 6 wedges.

WW PP = 7 PP per wedge

This is great served with a light ceasar salad. Also, if you aren't dealing with picky eaters you can add 1/2 cup of chopped onion and 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper to step two when you are browning the meat.

Another option if you are feeling more like an alfredo sauce trust me this recipe translates deliciously into a white spaghetti pie. Simply sub out the tomato sauce for an alfredo (homemade or a light jarred variety). You could also make it vegetarian, by using a bunch of roasted vegetables in either sauce (onions, baby bellas, etc) instead of the meat.