Florentine Spaghetti Bake

Name: Florentine Spaghetti Bake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 9 servings.
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti; 1 pound bulk Italian sausage; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce; 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained; 1 large egg, lightly beaten; 2 cups 4% cottage cheese; 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 1 hour + standing YIELD: 9 servings.

This hearty sausage entree will appeal to just about everyone. My daughter serves it often to her hardworking family on their wheat ranch in Montana. —Lorraine Martin, Lincoln, California

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 cups 4% cottage cheese
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage and onion, crumbling meat, until sausage is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in pasta sauce and mushrooms. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook until heated through, about 15 minutes.
2. Drain pasta. Combine the egg with the next 5 ingredients. Spread 1 cup sausage mixture in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with spaghetti and remaining sausage mixture. Layer with egg mixture and mozzarella cheese.
3. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until lightly browned and heated through, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 446 calories, 23g fat (9g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 1172mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 25g protein.