Baked Spaghetti

Oh yes I have been torturing the Toddster with pasta again.  What's a pasta loving girl to do.   We can't always eat meat and potatoes.  I need a bit of variety!  I need pasta!

This recipe is a little bit unique in that you mix the spaghetti with a delicious and easy to make Alfredo Sauce.  You then press it firmly into tiny loaf tins (or if you don't have loaf tins, large muffin cups or even buttered ramekins would work well also).  You sprinkle them with some mozza and cheddar cheeses, and then you bake them in a moderate oven . . .

until they are set and golden on the outsides . . .  a bit crispy on top . . .  but still moist beneath that top crust of cheese . . .

Perfect for ladling on a delicious sauce.  You can used jarred marinara sauce, which is what I did today, or you could use a tasty Bolognese Sauce like the one I made last week . . .  or you could make the delicious sauce from my Spaghetti and Meatballs.    You could even just be lazy and use frozen meatballs, or none at all if that is your choice, and it was mine today.  I don't always want meat.

I think I could quite happily become a vegetarian, if it wasn't for my occasional craving for a good steak . . .  or roast turkey.  Christmas wouldn't be the same without roast turkey . . .  or bacon . . .  I kinda like bacon . . . a LOT!

Okay so maybe I could never be a true vegetarian, but I do love vegetables and I don't always have to have meat.  Just so you know . . .

But  . . .  I digress.  Baked Spaghetti.  Delicious.  Easy.  Simple to make.   Family pleasing comfort food.   A unique presentation of a delicious dish.   And easily adapted to your own individual tastes.  Heck, the Alfredo Sauce tastes fabulous just tossed with the noodles and eaten like that.   Please yourself!  Whatever!  But if you are looking for something just that tiny bit different, without having to put in a whole lot of effort . .  .  this is the dish to do it with!
  
*Baked Spaghetti*
Serves 6Printable Recipe

This is a simple concept, easy to make, and very delicious.  It's also a very attractive presentation of what is essentially Spaghetti with sauce!  The Alfredo Sauce is to die for. on it's own!  For the Alfredo Sauce:450ml of double cream (2 cups heavy)2 tsp minced garlic1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper1/2 tsp fine sea salt1 tsp parsley flakes4 TBS butter125g of cream cheese (4 ounces)530g of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (3 cups)You will also need:375g of uncooked spaghetti noodles (6 cups cooked)120g of grated mozzarella and Cheddar mixed (1 cup)Chunky marinara sauce (I used Ragu Tomato and Basil)Meatballs (optional)extra cheese for serving  Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.   Butter six mini loaf tins very well.   Set them aside on a baking tray.  (Alternately you can butter six large muffin cups or ramekins)Bring the cream, garlic, pepper and salt to the boil over medium low heat.   Whisk in the butter and cream cheese, whisking until smooth.  Whisk in the Parmesan cheese, 1/3 at a time, until smooth. Stir in the parsley flakes.  Keep warm over very low heat.  Cook the pasta according to the package directions.  I break mine in half so it is easier to handle for this, but that is up to you.  Once it is cooked, drain well. Rinse with some cold water and drain again.  Stir this into the alfredo sauce.  Fill each of the mini loaf tins, pressing it well in with the back of a spoon, packing it down as much as you can.  Sprinkle the tops with an equal measure of the grated mozzarella and cheddar.   Bake for about 25 minutes, until golden brown and nicely set.  Heat the marinara sauce, adding meatballs if using.  To serve,  spoon a bit of marinara on each of six plates, place one of the baked spaghetti loaves on each, then if using meatballs, top with a couple of meat balls, and the remainder of the sauce.   Pass the cheese to serve.  

Oh, and I am pleased to announce that I am the winner of the Tuscany Now Contest, with the prize being a weekend for two at one of their Villa's in Tuscany!  Yay me!  YAY YOU!  It was YOUR votes that put me there and I am so very much appreciative of them.  Now all I have to do is come up with the air fare for the trip.  I guess I am going to have start selling a lot of cookbooklets and art.   I can do it!  I can do it!  Once again many thanks!  I am halfway there to making my dream come true!