Baked Spaghetti

You can use either store bought spaghetti sauce or make your own. This recipe calls for homemade but substitute what you like.


1 box Penne noodles (or your noodle of chose, I prefer shorter noodles due to the fact that I have small children and its easier for them to eat)

cook noodles as directed on box

sauce

2 14oz cans diced tomatoes with juice
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1/2 t Italian seasonings
1/2 t dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c chopped onions
1 t minced or chopped garlic
1 T Extra virgin olive oil ( i love using this, its adds another depth of flavor)
4 oz Cream cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 c sour cream

saute onions in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) for about 5 minutes or until they become translucent.

add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil for 15 minutes.
place heat on simmer and take a potato smasher and smash some of the tomatoes, all if you dont like it as chunky.

Next, add cream cheese in chunks to sauce until stir until melted! I tend to leave a few pieces of cream cheese whole, adds a little texture to the dish.

Once the cream cheese has melted, turn off heat and add your sour cream, drain your noodles and add to sauce. Mix together well and place in a pre-sprayed baking dish (casserole) and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

If you prefer you sauce with veggies in it, feel free to add peppers, mushrooms, or carrots to mixture. Saute them when you saute your onions.

I hope you try this dish, I got it from my mother-in-law and changed it a little... Let me know if you try this one! Its a family favorite in my house!

Enjoy!