Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients

• 1 (6 ounce) package spaghetti (we use lower carb spaghetti from Mission)

• 2 well beaten eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine (butter preferred)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta or small curd cottage cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 lb lean ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper ((or red/yellow/orange bell peppers if you don't like green))

• 1 (8 ounce) can chopped tomatoes

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon crushed dried oregano, or basil, or both, to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, to taste
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. 1

   Cook the spaghetti according to directions on package and drain.

2. 2

   Stir butter, parmesan, cheese, and eggs in hot spaghetti.

3. 3

   Form mixture into a "crust" in a buttered 10" pie plate.

4. 4

   Spread cottage cheese over bottom of spaghetti crust.

5. 5

   In skillet, cook ground beef or sausage, onion, and pepper until vegetables are tender and meat is browned.

6. 6

   Drain excess fat.

7. 7

   Stir in undrained tomatoes, brown sugar, oregano, garlic, and tomato paste and heat.

8. 8

   Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, then transfer meat mixture into spaghetti crust.

9. 9

   Bake uncovered in 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

10. 10

    Sprinkle mozarella cheese on top.

11. 11

    Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.