Spaghetti Casserole: A Meal To Share

I had the privilege of bringing a family a meal after the birth of their baby this past week.  The addition of a new baby to a family brings so much excitement, happiness, and joy!  It's also a time of adjustments, and a few extra *yawns* and bleary eyes for the parents.  Meals that can just be popped in the oven, or heated in the microwave, are always appreciated.  

Here's a meal that's easy to transport, easy to heat up, and easy to serve and clean-up.  And, if you aren't a cook yourself, there are a few short-cuts to take that will help you.

Any good meal starts with light and fluffy sweet rolls!  You can make them yourself, or pick up a package at a bakery/grocery store.

For the main dish, prepare or buy your favorite spaghetti sauce.  Cook 3/4 pound of noodles.

Combine the noodles and sauce, and spread in a disposable casserole dish.  Top with grated cheddar cheese, cover with foil, and write the directions on top.  (Cook for 30 minutes at 375).  

To complete the meal, I added a bag of caesar salad, and baked a lemon cake in a bread pan (then wrapped in waxed paper) for dessert.  

Here are my favorite recipes to share, but feel free to use your own tried-and-true! :)

From one hearty appletite to another...happy cooking!

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe:

1 pound sausage or ground beef

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons basil

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons parsley

2 bay leaves

28 ounces canned diced tomatoes

14 ounces tomato sauce

Brown meat with onions, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper.  Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a simmer.

Sweet Roll Dough:

3 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 package yeast (~2 teaspoons)

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup butter 

1 egg

Combine all ingredients and knead until elastic (about 5-7 minutes).  Allow to raise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours.  Knead.  Let them raise another hour.  Roll out into a circle on a floured surface and cut into 16 triangles.  Roll them up!  Raise 45 minutes and bake at 400 F for ~12 minutes.

Lemon Cake:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon extract

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon lemon peel

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

Combine butter with sugar and cream together.  Add extract and eggs and beat well.  Stir in dry ingredients alternately with milk, and add lemon rind.  Pour into greased and floured 5x9" pan.  Bake at 325 F for 45-50 minutes.  Top with hot lemon juice mixture and bake an additional 5-8 minutes.

~Topping~

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons hot lemon juice

Photography © Hearty Appletite