Recipes

[lavendersage]

This is tasty and makes a full pan.

Pasta Bake

1 (13.25 oz.) box whole wheat penne pasta
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 (1lb. 10oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

2 cups cottage cheese
3 cups mozzarella cheese, divided*
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
black pepper to taste
1/8 tsp garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9 x 13 baking dish.

Brown beef with onion, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and garlic powder. Drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Simmer on low while preparing rest of dish.

Prepare pasta according to directions on box. Stir in some of the pasta water to the spaghetti- meat mixture (about 1/4 -1/2 cup). Add pasta to meat- sauce. Remove from heat.
In a bowl, mix together, cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella, parmesan, pepper, garlic powder and beaten eggs.
Spread half of the meat-pasta mixture in the 9 x 13 dish, then layer all of the cottage cheese mixture, then the rest of the meat-pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella on top.

Bake for about 40-45 minutes until bubbly and the cheesy top is lightly browned. Cover with foil if getting too brown.
~You can also use half Italian sausage- half hamburger instead of all hamburger and add green peppers to the hamburger.