Skillet Spaghetti And A Killer Salad!

photo from Good Dinner Mom

Have you noticed that I really am trying to not post about food too much?

 I didn't think so! Oh well! At the risk of all of you thinking that all I do is think about food and love to cook and especially love to cook for my family….you would be 100% correct! 

There is nothing that I love more than to entertain family and friends!

 I truly am the most relaxed when I'm cooking or creating a fun meal! 

When we took most of our kids to Highlands, N.C. this past Fourth of July we cooked in a few times and ate out at great restaurants the rest of the time. 

One of the meals that I made was a huge hit! I've been dying to share it with you!

photo from A Good Dinner Mom

I've actually made this Skillet Spaghetti twice since we've been back. It's always a huge hit and it's an easy dish for me to have leftovers that I can send back with my youngest son for him to heat up during the week at Auburn University. I've had several moms of his friends ask for it because they loved it so much! I hope you will give it a try!

Just to make life easier since we were traveling to North Carolina I went ahead and cooked the meat and added the seasonings, froze it and then took it with us. 

The night that I made it I wanted to sing the Hallelujah Chorus when it was time to cook! 

Wow…that made a huge difference! 

All I had to do was add the sauce ingredients, the noodles and the cheeses! 

We had a yummy loaf of French bread with garlic butter and a yummy salad to top it off! 

You truly do have to have a LARGE skillet to make this! 

I took mine with me to Highlands!

At the end, you simply brown the cheese under the broiler! The kids were being lured in one by one by the incredible smell of this dish cooking! I promise you it is a crowd pleaser!

All you need is a salad! This is the only picture of my favorite salad that I could find. 

We've made it for years and years for Supper Club, Christmas Parties and family get togethers. 

Today I had a new reader ask about another recipe I had posted a few years ago and what salad to put with it. This is the first thing that came to my mind! I will share the recipes for the spaghetti and the salad and I truly do want you to try them both if you think your family and friends would enjoy it! It's so worth the effort!

Let me know your thoughts!

Skillet Spaghetti

1-1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef

1/2 pound Italian Sausage

3 cloves minced garlic

pinch of red pepper flakes

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

12 ozs. thin spaghetti broken into thirds

2 cans each ( 15 ounces each) crushed tomatoes

1 can ( 15 ounces) tomato sauce

3 Cups water

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed

1/2 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 Cup parmesan cheese

In a large non stick, oven proof skillet brown the meats together with the garlic and the red pepper flakes. Drain well and then add the basil, thyme, oregano, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, salt and pepper as well as the broken up spaghetti. The pan will be very full! Combine well and carefully! Let simmer while stirring very carefully, lifting up the noodles as you go to prevent sticking. Let simmer for 12-15 minutes covered. Don't worry if it seems thin…the sauce will thicken in the oven. Add the cubed cream cheese until it has melted and combined with the pasta. Sprinkle the other cheeses on top and put under the broiler until cheese is bubbly, melted and slightly browned! Don't burn your hands! Several of us have done this as you don't remember that the skillet has been in the oven as well as on the cooktop!

The Best Salad Ever!

(Hearts of Palm Salad)

2 head romaine lettuce, washed and torn up

2 cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

10-12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/3 C blue cheese crumbles

1 pint grape tomatoes, washed and halved

Dressing

1/4 small onion, chopped

3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 Cup canola oil

mix all ingredients except oil in a blender. 

Slowly add the oil in stages and blend well until slightly thickened.

ENJOY!