Spaghetti Casserole

Directions

1. 1
   Brown ground beef, onion, peppers, mushroom, and garlic together in a large saute pan.
2. 2
   Drain ground beef mixture and rinse under very hot water to remove grease.
3. 3
   Add Italian seasoning and re-warm over low heat. Add enough spaghetti sauce to achieve desired consistency (a fairly meaty sauce works best in my opinion).
4. 4
   Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Drain and return to cooking pot. Add cottage cheese or ricotta. Stir and set aside.
5. 5
   Spray 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread reserved spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the casserole.
6. 6
   Spread a layer of meat sauce about 3/4 inch thick. Sprinkle evenly with cheeses. Top with a 3/4 layer of noodles.
7. 7
   Repeat layering procedure 3-4 times, ending with meat sauce topped with cheeses.
8. 8
   Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes to one hour or until done to your taste.
9. 9
   This dish can be frozen before baking. To cook from a frozen state, cover and bake for about 50 minutes, then uncover and continue baking for another 30 minutes or until done to your taste.