I'll take pizza...and spaghetti.

It would appear I'm in the mood to combine 2 things and make 1 thing out of them. A few days ago, it was a dessert...and now dinner. This is one of those dishes I've been making since the beginning of time. My cooking time, that is. I don't even remember the first time I made it, or how it came about. Did I see a recipe or picture somewhere? Did I eat something similar? Did I just throw some things together and come up with it? Really. Drawing a blank here. You may even make something like it...it's not fancy or complicated...just an everyday dish...comforting and satisfying. This is one of those great dishes that can be customized to your tastes so easily! Meat lover? Veggie lover? A little bit of both? Then this is the dish for you! Unless you don't eat carbs. And then I just give you a weird look shrug and an eyebrow raise. It's also good reheated for the next couple of days...or eaten cold, like my son does in his lunch box at school. Pizza Baked Spaghetti by girlichef This works best in a 12" cast iron skillet. Well, I imagine that's the way it works best because that is how I've made each and every single time...my beloved cast iron skillet that has been with me since the beginning. And remember, add any other veggies you like at the point where I add the onions & garlic. Add any other meats & veggies as the pizza topping in the end, also! ~1lb. spaghetti, cooked to al dente ~3/4 lb. Italian sausage, loose (out of casings) 1 red onion, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced ~4- 4 1/2 c. Spaghetti sauce of your choice Italian seasoning- to taste ~1/2 c. + 1/2 c., (divided) Italian blend cheese or simply freshly grated Parmesan 2 c. Mozzarella, shredded Pepperoni Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. While the oven is preheating, brown your Italian Sausage in your large skillet. Once it is almost cooked through, add your onions & garlic and continue to cook until sausage has finished cooking and onions and garlic are soft & slightly caramelized. While this is cooking, prepare your spaghetti noodles. Add the sauce (cold is fine), the 1/2 c. of Italian Cheese Blend or Parmesan and your Italian Seasoning and toss well to combine.Add your pasta mixture to your skillet with the cooked sausage and veggies (off the heat). Stir everything up well to combine. Pack and flatten the whole mixture into the skillet. Top, in a pizza-like fashion, with the remaining Italian Blend/Parm. cheese and the Mozzarella. Arrange pepperoni over the top. Transfer to preheated oven and cook ~15-20 minutes or until cheese is hot & bubbly and sauce is heated through.Let cool for at least 10 minutes or so, giving the cheese time to "set" a bit. Cut into slices, like a pizza and serve! Or just scoop it out, either way...I just go with the whole Pizza Baked Spaghetti theme!Comfort food!Be careful, it's addicting.

This is my Presto Pasta Nights #129 entry. I'll be sending this over to Ruth of Once Upon a Feast who is not only the host this week, but the creator of Presto Pasta Nights!

click on the picture to check out more pasta at PPN!