Recipe For Cooking Company Casserole
Toaster Oven Casseroles :: Beef Casseroles
Company Casserole
Tomato Sauce Layer
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 to 4 lrg. cloves garlic (to taste)
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 tea. dried oregano leaf
1 Tbsp. dried basil (or to taste)
1 sm. bay leaf
Cheese and Onion Layer
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C. cottage cheese
1/4 C. sour cream
1/3 C. thinly-sliced green onions,
white and light green part only
Spaghetti Layer
2 Tbsp. plus 2 tea. olive oil
1/2 lb. dry spaghetti noodles
Make the tomato sauce layer first: heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over med.
heat in a lrg. saucepan. Add ground beef, breaking into sm. pieces and stirring occasionally until browned. Add garlic and onion and sauté until onion is transparent. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil and bay leaf. Cover with pan lid ajar to let some steam escape and simmer at least 30 min., and up to 3 hr. to let flavors develop.
Add water (or a little red wine) if necessary to keep the sauce from getting too dry. Remove the bay leaf before assembling the casserole. Make spaghetti according to pkg. directions, adding 1Tbsp. of olive oil to the boiling water to keep noodles from sticking together. Cook until al dente (firm, not mushy) and drain well.
While spaghetti is cooking, make creamy cheese and onion layer by mixing the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream together in a food processor or blender until smooth and well combined. Stir in the green onions. Oil a lrg. bowl or 2-qt. casserole with 2 tea. olive oil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Assemble casserole by adding 1/2 of spaghetti noodles to bottom of casserole, drizzle with about 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil, top with 1/2 of creamy cheese and onion mixture, then 1/2 of tomato sauce. Repeat, ending with tomato sauce on top of casserole. Poke a dinner knife into the finished casserole in 4 to 6 places and wriggle it around to allow some of the tomato sauce to work its way into the noodle and cheese layers. Bake, uncovered, about 30 min.
Makes approximately 6 servings.
