Recipe: Christening Party - How about Spaghetti Casserole (8 recipes) (repost) .....

Jesse ~

Since many of the children will eat spaghetti, how about using that as a center point for your buffet with plenty of garlic bread, bread sticks, and/or french bread rolls available. I would make the spaghetti casserole style so you can prepare and assemble it the day before. Put the casserole in your oven as soon as you return to your house. The spaghetti casserole will bake while you are putting other foods onto your buffet table.

I would also have make-your-own tossed salad ingredients on your buffet. Again, you can do this preparation the night before. Put the tossed greens in a large bowl. In side bowls have chopped additions available so each guest can make their own salad. This is also good for people who are on special diets, or who have food allergies. You might include chopped veggies such as green onion, red onion, red and green peppers, mushrooms, olives, celery, brocolli bits, steamed asparagus pieces, etc. Also have chopped chicken, chopped ham, various cheeses and croutons.

Have a variety of salad dressings available, clearly marked as to which is which. Again, this helps if any of your guests have special food needs.

I would also make some finger jello for the kids (and the young at heart). This must be made ahead and is fun and very easy to serve. There are a number of finger jello recipes posted here on the Recipe Link.

You might also want to do a Recipe Link search for "make-ahead appetizers". There are many wonderful recipes already posted on this site that you might want to add to your buffet table.

Here are some spaghetti casserole recipes that were previously posted on Recipe Link. It would be good to have lots of shredded cheeses so your guests can also embellish their spaghetti if they want.
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SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

1 lb. hamburger or Italian sausage or combination of both
1 jar (28 oz or so) spaghetti sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 oz) bag spaghetti noodles or other pasta (great with rotelli)
1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 to 1 c. parmesan cheese

Cook meat with onion. Drain fat. Cook noodles using package directions (leave al dente). Mix meat, sauce, and noodles. Layer in greased casserole dish with mozzarella and parmesan. Cover with greased foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve with Italian bread and salad.
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SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
1 lb. ground beef
2 tbsp. celery, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1 med. green pepper, chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 can mushroom soup
1 can chopped tomatoes
Brown in skillet. Salt, pepper, garlic salt to taste. Simmer for 30 minutes. Cook spaghetti and mix altogether. Cook about 5 minutes. Put in serving dish with strips of cheese on top. Bake in 375 degree oven until cheese melts.
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MEAT-SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
1/2 lb. pork sausage
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/3 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tsp. oregano
3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1 c. water
1 (8 oz.) pkg. spaghetti
3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 c. chopped celery
Combine sausage (broken in pieces), ground beef, celery, onions and green pepper in large heavy skillet. Stir over medium heat until meat is brown and crumbly. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, oregano, salt, sugar and water. Mix; cover skillet and simmer about 30 minutes. Stir frequently. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Cook spaghetti. Place alternate layers of drained spaghetti and meat sauce in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top with cheese. Bake about 20 minutes or until top is browning and bubbly. If desired, top with shredded Cheddar, Mozzarella cheese until slightly melted.
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SAVORY SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped
Pam
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can Campbell's
condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can Campbell's tomato
soup
1/2 soup can water
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 lb. spaghetti, cooked & drained
Cook beef, onion, and green pepper in pan sprayed with Pam until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain. Add soups, water, and garlic; heat. Blend in 1/2 cup cheese. Combine with spaghetti in a 12 x 9 x 2 inch casserole; top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until bubbling and hot. Serves 4 to 6.
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SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
1 pkg. vermicelli
2 lbs. ground beef
3 tbsp. garlic powder or 1 clove,
sauteed
2 to 3 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. oregano
2 tbsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. sugar
Salt & pepper to taste
2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans tomato paste
1 can (10 oz.) water
2 (8 oz.) mild cheddar cheese
Boil vermicelli until tender. Brown ground beef and drain. Mix sauce, paste and all spices together. Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. Drain vermicelli well. Mix sauce and vermicelli together well. Place in casserole dish or long baking dish. Grate cheddar cheese and sprinkle on top of vermicelli - sauce mixture. Place in oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees or until lightly brown. Cut in squares and serve.
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SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
2 tbsp. butter
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (8 oz.) pkg. spaghetti
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sour cream
6 green onions, chopped
1/2 lb. cheddar cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put butter in a cold skillet. Add garlic, and mash with sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook until butter is melted, then add meat and brown. Add tomato sauce and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Combine cream cheese, sour cream and green onions. Place spaghetti in a greased 13x9-inch casserole. Top with cream cheese mixture and then meat mixture. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serves 6-8.
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MORE - SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
1/2 lb. spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 can peas
1 can corn
1 green pepper
1/4 lb. American cheese
Parsley
Cook spaghetti until almost done. Brown meat, onion, chili powder, and garlic. Cook approximately 5 minutes. Drain spaghetti and put in large casserole. Add corn, peas, and green pepper to meat mixture and stir; then put on top of spaghetti. Slice cheese and brown in oven 15-20 minutes to melt cheese.
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Mama Pacetti's Spaghetti with Meatballs and Sausage (Posted by Gina/FL)

This is an authentic recipe from the old countryside. Delicious!!!!

Meatballs:
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. fresh chopped parsley
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. fine dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 t. salt
1/2 t. black pepper
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. oregano
2 T. olive oil

Mix ground sirloin, onion, garlic, parsley, Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, salt, pepper and herbs. You can add a little water if too dry. Shape into meatballs and brown in olive oil before adding to sauce.

For Meat Sauce:

Brown the sirloin, drain and set aside. Continue making the sauce as directed below and instead of adding meatballs, add the browned meat and stir to blend well.

Sauce:
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 red bell peppers, washed, cored and chopped
3 T. olive oil
1-2 pork chops or pork rib
1 lb. mild Italian Sausage cut into 2" pieces
2 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes with puree
1 T. fresh basil or 1 t. dried
1/4 c. fresh chopped parsley
1/2 t. crumbled thyme
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 t. sugar
1/4 t. crushed dried red pepper
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1/4 t. oregano
1/4 t. marjoram
1/4 t. rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 t. Italian seasoning
12 oz. cooked spaghetti
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Brown the sausage and set aside. Saut onions, pork chops and garlic in large pot. Add tomatoes, paste and sauce and bring to a boil. Add next 13 ingredients, the browned meatballs, the browned sausage and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stir occasionally.