Our latest feast

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Spaghetti Bake

I was planning to cook good ol' Spaghetti Bolognaise tonight as I know that there is never any complaints from the Murray clan when it is placed in front of them but it is nice to always try something new especially when it is a dish that several of my online friends have made and encouraged me to try.

When I originally came across this recipe in one of the Symply To Good To Be True cookbooks, book 5, I knew that we would be trying it at some stage (but hadden as yet got around to doing so) and that I would be a winner considering my children's love of Lasagne and Macaroni Beef or to be totally honest anything with pasta in it!! And no, we do not have italian blood anywhere in the family tree!!

As per usual, a few ingredient changes nothing major except for increasing the herb quantity and adding more vegetables into the dish. I am big fan of "hiding" vegetables where and when I can. Isn't that what all good mam's do? Although in saying that I am proud that both my children eat lots of vegetables even brussel sprouts!


Spaghetti Bake
(adapted from Symply To Good To Be True #5)

Serves: 6 large or 8 average
Points per serve: Large - 7
Average - 5.5

300g spaghetti
cooking spray
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1 brown onion, diced
500 grams very lean beef mince
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1 red capsicum, diced
1 green capsicum, diced
200g mushrooms, sliced
2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes
3/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon chicken stock powder
2 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt
freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup low fat grated tasty cheese

Preheat the oven to 180 deg C.

Cook pasta following instructions on the packet, drain and leave to one side.

Coat a large frying pan with cooking spray, saute garlic and onion for 1 minute. Add mince and combine, cooking until browned and cooked through. Add carrot, capsicum and mushrooms. Cook for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, stock powder, basil, oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil then reduce to a slow boil cooking for a further 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Fold the cooked spaghetti through the mince mixture until well combined. Pour into a large lasagne dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle top with combined cheeses and cooked in oven for 30 - 40 minutes or until cooked through and cheese is golden and bubbly.


This dish overall didn't take that long to get into the oven and then only 30 minutes cooking time. But it didn't take that long to disappear especially with hubby and son having two serves each!! LOL!! Definitely a "cook again" recipe in our house or a keeper as some of you call these types of recipes!!
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6 comments:

Pam said...

I've always wanted to make a spaghetti bake but have yet to try it. This looks FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Jo!

Guess what we are having Saturday night. Will let you know how it goes. I'm sure everyone will love it. I like the fact that these recipes are so generous--when I cook ww meals I always have to double.

Best wishes, Lesley

redkathy said...

This looks great. I am a big pasta fan and will definitely try this. Thanks for sharing.

Creative Classroom Core said...

This looks delicious! I bet my little ones would LOVE this!

Lara said...

I can't go wrong with noodles and cheese at our house. This looks great!

Colleen said...

I have been wanting to try a spaghetti bake for a long time - yours looks delicious!