Spaghetti Pie Help!

[erinyyc]

From all the wonderful posts, I've decided it's time to make the spaghetti pie. I have a few questions though....
1. (may sound dumb)Where do you find ground round? All I can find is regular, lean, and extra-lean ground beef. Is it similar?
2. could I use fat-free sour cream (and fat-free cream cheese) instead of low-fat?
3. how do you think a substitution of shrimp(or other shell fish)or chicken would work?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks, Erin http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lindrusso]

1. (may sound dumb)Where do you find ground round? All I can find is regular, lean, and extra-lean ground beef. Is it similar?

Ground Round is just very lean ground beef. Using the extra lean would be fine.

2. could I use fat-free sour cream (and fat-free cream cheese) instead of low-fat?
This I'm not sure on. I personally don't like the taste and texture of either of the non-fat products, so I wouldn't make that substitution for myself. If, however, you use these regularly and like them, then I don't see why not. It may turn out a bit too runny though? In my experiences, fat-free cream cheese just doesn't cook up nicely.

3. how do you think a substitution of shrimp(or other shell fish)or chicken would work?
My initial reaction is that you might be able to do chicken, but I don't know about the shrimp. Again, that's probably just a preference thing - I have a hard time picturing the Spaghetti Pie with anything other than beef!

Let us know what you end up trying and how it comes out! Good luck!




[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 12-04-2000).]

[tobykitty]

I also think that the fat free sour cream and cream cheese might make this too runny. And my initial reaction to making this with shrimp was to shudder. Chicken maybe. I would suggest you try it without any variations first, then go from there.

[Tiger]

Erin-
I make the spag. pie all the time with fat-free sour cream and low-fat cream cheese. Your only using 2oz of cream cheese, so going completely fat-free probably isn't nescesary. Mine isn't runny at all.
Also if I don't have fresh green onions I
use dried chives from my pantry.
I wouldn't try seafood instead of the ground beef, but chicken would probably be ok.
Tiger

[Jen]

Aha! Another Canadian! Apparently in the States they call it "ground round"...it's the equivalent of extra-lean ground beef here. (There was an article in CL a couple of months ago - I think a 30' or less article - with ground beef recipes, and they described it there).

I've also made the spaghetti pie with ff sour cream, although I use the cream cheese called for since I can't get ff cream cheese here. It turned out great! Next time I'd like to try it with ground turkey, but I'm not sure how it would work with actual chunks of chicken.

[Kimba]

Actually, I think the recipe is pretty forgiving. I made it tonight for dinner, and found I didn't have any green onions. I did, however, have some leftover onion dip, so I added a couple of spoonsful of that to the sour cream and cream cheese mixture, and it came out great.

If I were going to experiment with seafood, I'd make the sauce spicier, more like a fra diavolo type sauce, and I'd put the seafood on top of the pasta and cover it with the sour cream and sauce layers, so it didn't dry out.

[Cindy Rafferty]

This must be the thread for cat lovers. I can't resist: my kitty, Toby, is 19 1/2. And she's part Russian Blue and part Tiger, a purrfect combination. Enjoy the spaghetti pie. I tried it once, but found it a bit on the "heavy" side, and haven't repeated it for my family.

[SusieO]

I made the Spaghetti Pie with fat-free sour cream and fat-free cream cheese, and substituted mushrooms for the meat. It was fabulous!

[Tiger]

Jen- I'm not Canadian. I live on the East coast and we call it ground beef.

Cindy- Sorry, I'm not a cat lover. Believe it or not my last name is Tiger.

[Tiger]

Jen- I'm not Canadian. I live on the East coast and we call it ground beef.

Cindy- Sorry, I'm not a cat lover. Believe it or not my last name is Tiger.

[BethH]

Erin,

I always make spaghetti pie with ~12 oz. sliced mushrooms (1 1/2 pkgs) sauteed with a little or alot of garlic and some olive oil. Its just super...no one even misses the meat. Give the mushrooms a try over the chicken or seafood. (it also lowers the fat so you don't have to feel guilty about using low-fat vs. fat-free cream cheese--if that worries you) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[JJ40]

I also second (or is it third by now?) the idea of using mushrooms instead of ground beef. This is what I did last time I made the spaghetti pie and I actually preferred it to the ground beef.

Julie http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Colleen]

I don't really have anything to add except...I LOVE SPAGHETTI PIE!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Beth Y]

I have substituted "Recipe Basics" soy crumbles in place of ground beef and it works great too!

[AndreaU]

Just rehashing an old post here to put in my 2 cents worth... I just made this tonight and it turned out o.k. I did however modify the recipe somewhat:
1. We don't eat meat so, like Beth Y, I substituted meatless soy crumbles for the ground beef.
2. I also didn't have scallions (out store was out of them!)- they would have been good, but we survived without them.
3. I went with 1/2 cheddar and 1/2 part-skim mozzarella for taste & calorie/fat purposes.

Anyway, my husband told me I can make it again (thanks...) If I do, I'll probably add diced tomatoes for a richer flavor and perhaps cut back on the sour cream/cream cheese, not because it was too runny (I used fat-free versions of both) but just to have more tomato flavor. A good comfort food.

[RUSTYSMOM]

I make this with groudn turkey breast and it works beautifully. I love the idea of the mushrooms - I wouldn't have thought of that!! Thanks once again for another great idea!

[bossy]

I made this with nofat cream cheese and lowfat sour cream - just what I had on hand. Also put a bit less sour cream in than what the recipe called for. It turned out good but needed more taste - next time I will definitely add some garlic (even though there is a tiny bit in the tomato sauce) and some italian seasoning to perk it up.

[SandyM]

Can I bother someone to please post the recipe - I somehow missed it...... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[tobykitty]

Sandy,

Did you ever get the recipe for Spaghetti Pie? Sorry I didn't see this request sooner!

[SandyM]

Nope - still waiting.... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SandyM]

Disregard - I found it on another post. Sorry!