Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie - YUM!

My favorite blog recently posted a recipe that I knew my husband needed to give a try...Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie. I found the recipe here http://http//warmpiehappyhome.blogspot.com/. This lady welcomes you into her website with music of old and uplifting, encouraging words. She speaks such words of wisdom. I love the "June Cleaver-ness", "Aunt Bee-ness from The Andy Griffith Show" and "Little House on the Prairie-ness" of it...getting back to basics and how time used to be. I sooooo want to live my life more like that. Ahhh! To slow down and enjoy it all!

So, first of all you have to understand that I personally have a dislike for cast iron pans. They are so heavy and in the past have always been in my way since our old home did not have ample storage. The cast iron skillet was kept in the oven at the last house and every time I wanted to use the oven I had to remove it. So, since Jack just got some new cast iron pans at Christmas, I knew he'd be excited about this recipe.

Here's how it turned out:


It was a HIT with the kids so I think we'll be adding it to our recipes. Our exchange student loves ALL spaghetti so she devoured it! One thing I will say if you're considering making it, it's an expensive meal to make with all the fresh ingredients. I'm glad we followed the recipe to a "t" this time but next time we'll be modifying it to fit the budget better.

A BIG shout-out to my wonderful husband..........THANKS FOR MAKING SUCH A DELICIOUS MEAL HONEY! For those of you silly men out there wondering...no there's no possum or racoon in it! Here's the great recipe if you'd like to give it a try.

Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie

1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound extra lean ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage, 4 links (sweet or hot) casings removed
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I add two more pinches to give it a kick!)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 cups water

8 ounces spaghetti, broken into 3 inch pieces (I used half of a 16 ounce package--Thin spaghetti--not Angel Hair-- but you can use regular )

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

1. Saute green onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil, on medium heat 5 minutes.
2. Add beef and sausage, brown over medium-hi heat.
3. While almost brown, add garlic, pepper flakes, oregano, and parsley.
4. Once browned, stir in crushed tomatoes, water and salt.
5. Add broken spaghetti. Push spaghetti into liquid, and cover for 8 minutes.
6. After 8 minutes, stir pasta so the noodles won't stick together. Reduce heat to medium low simmer for 6 more minutes until pasta is al dente (almost cooked but still a little firm).
7. Add basil, Parmesan cheese, and cream, stir well.
8. Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese, put in oven to broil until spotty brown. (stand there and keep watch or set a timer for 3 minutes at a time until it's ready, or else you may end up with Blackened Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie!)