Spaghetti Pie

There was one unusual thing that my mom would make us as kids that my friends always loved:  Spaghetti Pie.  It is a very simple recipes that offers a unique experience and, if there are kids around, will have them begging their parents to make it too.  My friend, Jane, came over on my Birthday with breakfast and a little crumb cake with a candle on it.  We decided to have Jane and her son over for Spaghetti Pie.  Not only are the ingredients simple, if you have a gluten-free diet you can use this recipe as well.

Spaghetti Pie

Makes:  3 -4 pies

Ingredients:

• 1 box of spaghetti (You can use gluten-free is needed.)
• 1 small tub of ricotta cheese
• 1 lb of shredded mozzarella or Italian cheese mix
• 1/2 lb of ground meat (We used ground beef but you can use any ground meat or Italian sausage with the casings removed.  My sister once did this step with TVP.)
• 1 jar of marinara-based sauce or make your own
• 6 eggs
• 3 – 4 pie tins

Directions:

1. Cook the spaghetti as directed on the packaging.
2. While the spaghetti is cooking, brown the ground meat.  You can season it if you like with some garlic.
3. Prepare you pie tins by greasing them with the oil of your choice.
4. Beat the 6 eggs in a small bowl.
5. After the spaghetti is cooked, drain thoroughly and divide into the pie tins.  You may need to press down with a spoon to help it fill the tin to look crust-like.
6. Pour the egg around the edges of the pie tin coating the outer “crust” of your pie.
7. Pour a good amount of sauce in the center of each pie.
8. Top the sauce with the ground meat.
9. Top the meat with the ricotta cheese.
10. Top the ricotta cheese with a little bit more sauce.
11. Top the pies with the shredded cheese.  (If you choose to prepare this a day ahead, save this step until halfway through cooking the pie.)
12. Bake for 35 minutes as 350 degrees.  (If you are putting it in the oven from the refrigerator, bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees.)

Tags: cooking, food, pasta, pie, spaghetti, spaghetti pie