Spaghetti is my go-to when I have no idea what I'm going to make for dinner. I love this recipe because it takes the store-bought jar of spaghetti sauce and amps it up a couple of notches. I love mixing in the noodles so they can absorb the tomato-y goodness. Don't know what to fix tonight? Give this a try.

Spaaaaahhhhghetti

1 lb ground beef browned (oil drained)
12 oz spaghetti noodles cooked al dente and drained
2 cans (or jars) prepared spaghetti sauce
1 onion chopped
1/2 - 1 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbs Red wine vinegar
1 Tbs (rounded) brown sugar

Saute onion in olive oil. Add minced garlic, browned ground beef and spaghetti sauce. Then add red wine vinegar and brown sugar. Stir and let simmer. Add cooked spaghetti noodles and fresh basil (optional). Serve with Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese. Printable recipe

This is one of those recipes that is tried and true. When we have company over, or when a friend has a baby and I take her a meal, this is the recipe I make.
#1. It is delicious and not overly tomatoe-y.
#2. Everyone seems to like it. It is easy to make and serves lots of people.

I found the recipe in a magazine about 12 years ago. I hope you like it.

Baked Spaghetti

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper (optional)
1 Tbsp butter
1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes with liquid, cut up
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
2 tsp dried oregano
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained, optional
12 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives and oregano. Add ground beef if desired. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Place half of the spaghetti in a greased 13x9 inch baking dish. Top with half of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Repeat layers. Mix the soup and water until smooth; pour over the casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Printable recipe

When we were house hunting in Boise one of our good friends invited us over for dinner. She served these Lil' Cheddar meatloaves and when I tasted them I thought I had died and gone to heaven. They are seasoned beautifully and on top is a ketchup, mustard, brown sugar mixture that I can seriously lick right out of the bowl. I begged my friend for the recipe and she graciously gave it to me. It is one of my go-to meals for Sunday dinner and I often compliment it with Heavenly Potatoes (they are actually called Funeral Potatoes but I'm a glass half-full kind of girl).
The great thing about making these together is that they take the same amount of time to cook. 45 minutes and dinner is ready! I hope you enjoy.


Lil' Cheddar Meat Loafs
*By Erin R.

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup onions
1 tsp salt
1 lb ground beef

2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp prepared mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix egg and milk together. Stir in cheese, oats, onion and salt. Mix well.
Stir in beef to mixture. Shape into 8 loafs and place on a cookie sheet wrapped
in foil.

Mix ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Spoon over loafs.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until beef is no longer pink on the inside.

Enjoy! Printable recipe



Heavenly Potatoes
*formerly Funeral Potatoes

1/2 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 lbs. frozen hash browns
2 cups sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup cornflake crumbs

Saute onions and butter until transparent. Mix together with next four ingredients. Pour into a greased 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with cornflake crumbs. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly. Printable recipe