Spaghetti seems to be a classic "Italian-American" dish, despite its Italian roots. I've never understood the draw of this generally bland and uninspiring meal that is found in typical American homes, I'm not talking about the ones that do it right with actual Italian recipes but the ones that do it with few ingredients. I guess the appeal lies in its simplicity: a cheap, three-ingredient, one-pot wonder. Boil pasta, brown meat, add sauce, mix together, and eat. A blessing for the time challenged or those clueless in the kitchen.
As a kid, I dreaded the nights I'd walk into the kitchen and see a boiling pot of pasta and a bottle of ketchup next to the stove. This always meant one thing: I would be eating garlic bread for dinner and essentially going to bed hungry. I'm not exactly sure where my mom picked up her recipe for spaghetti, but I assume it may have come from her mother, a woman not known for her culinary skills. Of course, my mom's recipe included more than just ground beef, pasta, and ketchup; it also had LOTS and LOTS of bell peppers and onions. The sight of ketchup was enough to make me lose my appetite.
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| This could have been me |
While working on this blog, I discovered that ketchup-based pasta dishes date back to the Great Depression. In fact, it's a main ingredient in a dish known as Depression Spaghetti, which was more widespread than I thought. I have a feeling it may have been featured in a swanky magazine like Good Housekeeping or Harper's, possibly as an ad for a ketchup brand disguised as a recipe.
My disdain for spaghetti was solidified at a Cub Scout Camp-o-ree. I walked into the main bathroom and my spaghetti days were over. Some kid had puked and left what appeared to be two pots of spaghetti in the restroom. It must have been a violent ordeal because it was EVERYWHERE, and the smell was a cross between Spaghetti-O's and... well... vomit. I couldn't imagine why there was SO much in the bathroom. It was almost like he came directly from a spaghetti eating contest or that's what he had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a few days, perhaps the reason his body rejected it.
Terry loves spaghetti, but we rarely have it. I hate it to the point that I have to clear my mind of everything and hum while I eat it. It took me a long time to overcome my aversion to spaghetti pasta. I mainly poured meat sauce on garlic bread and called it a meal.
Just for shits and giggles, here's a copy of Depression Spaghetti I found online. Brave enough to try it?
Depression Spaghetti
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb ground meat, browned with diced onion
Spaghetti noodles, boiled and drained
1/2 stick butter, melted
24 oz bottle of ketchup
1 tablespoon sugar
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
Boil spaghetti noodles until tender, then drain.
Mix with browned meat and onion.
Add melted butter, ketchup, sugar, and salt & pepper.
Stir well and serve.
If you hate it, don't blame me... I don't eat that stuff. It's a meal for less than five bucks anyway. Now if you're looking for something that's an amazing no-fail meal, follow the recipe below and let me know what you think!
Easy-Bake Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients:
1 (8-ounce) package of spaghetti
1 pound of lean ground beef
1 (16-ounce) jar of spaghetti sauce
½ cup butter, sliced (divided)
1 (8-ounce) container of cottage cheese
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese (softened)
¼ cup sour cream
1 (8-ounce) package of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions:
Preheat and Prep: Start by gathering all your ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cook the Spaghetti: Boil a large pot of lightly salted water and cook the spaghetti until it's done but still a bit firm (about 8 to 12 minutes). Drain it.
Cook the Beef: While the pasta is cooking, heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks (about 5 to 7 minutes). Drain off the grease, then mix in the spaghetti sauce.
Layer it Up: Put half of the butter slices in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread half of the spaghetti over the butter. Mix the cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream in a bowl, then spread this mixture over the spaghetti.
More Layers: Cover with the rest of the spaghetti and top with the remaining butter slices. Pour the beef and sauce mixture over the top, spreading it out evenly.
Bake and Finish: Pop the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Then, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and nicely browned.
Enjoy: Serve it up and enjoy your delicious, easy-bake spaghetti casserole!
I hope you found this story entertaining! If you did, I'd love to hear your thoughts and any fun spaghetti stories of your own in the comments. And if you happen to try any of these recipes, a little token of appreciation in the form of a comment or whatever would be most welcome. 😊
