Baked Spaghetti

"Satisfying" and "hearty" are great words to describe this one-dish wonder. But in addition to its heartwarming taste, casseroles also offer two things every busy cook can appreciate: convenience and speed.
This recipe is simple to assemble. You just pop them into the oven for baking. Add some fresh fruit in the side or garlic bread, and dinner is ready.
This yummy spaghetti casserole was requested by my daughters, who really love all the cheese. It's perfect, especially during this cold and snowy weather. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 ounces) spaghetti
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 jar (26 ounces) meatless spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cups (16 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.) Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and seasoned salt; set aside.

2.) In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture and toss to coat.

3.) Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2in. baking dish. Top the half of the cottage cheese, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or unti cheese is melted.

New Year's Bash

We had a New Year's Eve party in our house with friends and family. I wanted the event to be grand and festive, so I chose the dining table to have the biggest, holiday decorating impact. Since it's the gathering spot for celebrations, it deserves special treatment. Our family's tradition for New Year is to have circular objects decorated around our house to respresent luck and fortune for the upcoming year.

Directions:
Tie glasses to the overhead light fixture with varying lengths of ribbon. Knot the ribbon to be sure the glasses are held securely in pace. To continue the theme, fill tall glass vases and wine glasses with fruits. To invert the vases, hold a flat plate on top of the vase and flip it over. Carefully remove the plate from underneath the vase. To flip the wine glasses, placing your hand over the top of the glass should do the trick. Adorn the tops of the vases with single pieces of fruit or clusters of grapes. Use pottery plates and serving pieces for a casual ambience.