Cookbook Spread

“Nobody could say no to...”

Grandpa Karl's Baked Spaghetti Pie

B

aked Spaghetti Pie is a meal my grandpa Karl would always make for family dinners. This is personally one of my favorite foods that he makes and reminds me of living in Iowa. My mom growing up had always joked that every Iowa meal is comprised of some form of meat and potatoes or Italian food. Honestly, she could not be more correct. I remember vividly when I was little we used to make two different kinds of spaghetti in my house. One with the sauce my brother enjoyed and the other times with spaghetti sauce that I enjoyed. Nonetheless we both enjoy this delicious meal my grandpa made no matter what different kind of spaghetti sauce you use, it is

completely up to you. My favorite way to enjoy baked spaghetti pie is with garlic cheese bread on the side. When I think of this meal I can remember the many meals where we sat down together and enjoyed each other’s company and nothing less. The times my grandpa cooked baked spaghetti pie was not during the holidays when we all came together.

He used it as an excuse to join us all today under the same roof. Let me tell you, nobody could say no to my grandpa Karl.

If I close my eyes, I can still imagine everyone there around the table and feel their presence. Some no longer sit at the table with us, some are unable to be with us today, but this meal gives me a euphoric feeling.

Most visits were structured and played out like the same way it was reminiscing back. Since I was the youngest I would set the table with forks, spoons, knives and plates according to my grandma’s standard who liked everything a certain way. We would all wait eagerly in the living room to be told to grab our drinks and that supper was ready.

Unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, we line up buffet style to eat our food and find our unassigned seats. Here’s where the story can deviate.

Up until the passing of my great grandma she would always recite “Our Father Who Art in Heaven” before we started our meals. After her death the meals never started the same but still had the same ending.

Proceeding supper was my grandpa’s favorite meal, dessert! I do not think I have ever seen my grandparents run out of ice cream but it was dessert every time unless we had cake or pie. But even then, ice cream was served optional on the side. My grandpa is a true believer that you are not aware of how much food you truly want to consume.

Every time he scoops ice cream he does not use a regular ice cream scooper but a flatter wider utensil so he can scoop out big chunks of ice cream. Two scoops are too much, but one fat one is just right.

Mom always puts caramel on top, Brandon eats only plain vanilla, grandma eats raspberry sauce on practically everything, and grandpa varies on his mood. I used to put douse it with anything and everything, caramel, chocolate syrup, chocolate chunks, cookies you name it.

Depending on what we ate dessert really determined the rest of the night.

“Set the table with forks, spoons, knives and plates”

If we go into the living room and eat on table trays I expected either lively conversation, a movie, or a nap. Had we chosen to stay at the dining room table, it would be cleaned, and we would end up playing several rounds of hearts. I do not know how to play many card games but hearts are one of the easiest I know. Most of the time I would not have a chance at winning between my brother and my dad. My dad was impeccable at getting breaking 100 points and being reset back down to zero. Even though the stakes were never high we all treated it as if it was, especially my brother. If you had accidently played hearts because you thought you were out of a suit (like spades) and then played a three of spades he would remember and then tell you the past

few cards you played. I am not really sure if this came from the

want to win or the desire to be correct all the time. The winner of the game would be compensated up to a dollar from the loser. The first person to break 100 has to subtract the person with the lowest score for example say twenty-five and then have to pay them seventy–five cents.

After all debt is collected, we start to wrap up the night. My grandpa does not have to persuade us to take home any leftover it is already a given that we would devour them. My grandma would get ready for bed and transition from her wheelchair to her bed and most of the time we would end up saying goodnight to her in the bedroom. Always did she tell me she loved me and gave me a kiss. Grandma Daisy would be taken home by Uncle Bob before it was too late at night or her oxygen tank would run out. Every time she would leave she would sign “I love you” from a distance even after we said our goodbyes.

Uncle Bob would give me a bear hug goodbye every time. We would both try to squeeze each other so tight that it was uncomfortable.

My grandpa would see us out to the door at the end of the night and say goodnight and that he loved us more.

Here’s to the Spaghetti Pie that brought us together not only in proximity but through the many gatherings and late nights we shared.

Although a few main components of the festivities have changed they are still distilled in my memories. I might not have always acknowledged why I got nostalgic feeling while eating this meal but now I understand.

Those many nights and laughers shaped who I have become and I hope to carry a tradition of making this for my family to bring them together aside from special occasions.

“Here's to the Spaghetti Pie that brought us together”

Ingredients Directions ☐ 8 oz spaghetti noodles ☐ ⅓ C. parmesan cheese ☐ 1 Tsp sugar ☐ 2 eggs (well beaten) ☐ 1 ½ lbs ground chuck ☐ 8 oz cottage cheese ☐ 8 oz mozzarella cheese ☐ 2 Tbsp margarine ☐ ½ Tsp salt ☐ ¼ Tsp pepper 1 ☐ 5 ½ oz spaghetti sauce ☐ ½ tsp leaf oregano ☐ 1 medium onion ☐ ½ Tsp garlic salt

Step 1 Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions; drain.

Step 2 Place noodles in 13×9×2" baking dish.

Step 3 Stir in butter, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, sugar, and eggs.

Step 4 Saute’ ground chuck and onions in skillet until meat is brown; drain excess fat.

Step 5 Stir in spaghetti sauce, oregano, and garlic salt. Spread cottage cheese over the noodles and top with meat mixture.

Step 6 Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 7 Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top and bake additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step 8 Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.