Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti {and the Third Annual Apres Thanksgiving Blogger Feast}

Looking for a hearty, easy pasta dish that is totally kid-approved? This riff on lasagna just might be the kids’ new favorite.

Two weekends ago, friends and food converged once again as Patsy, Sarah, and I got together to celebrate our third annual Apres Thanksgiving Blogger Feast. No food theme this time, it was a total free for all, and we magically ended up with the perfect amount of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.

Well, ok, there might have been slightly more dessert than the other items, but I don’t think an abundance of dessert is ever a bad thing.

Especially when we divide up the leftovers.

Sarah brought these slightly crispy, slightly soft Cheesy Loaded Potato Bites, Make Ahead Potato Hash, Pecan Toffee Wedding Cookies, and a Lemony Cauliflower Dip. My favorites were the dip (which I polished off the next day) and the cookies. Once she coughs up the dip recipe, I will share it. It would be awesome for raw vegetables or slathered on grilled chicken. Or, you know, pretty much just by itself on a spoon.

Patsy brought Chocolate Earthquake Cookies, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, Martha Stewart’s Snickerdoodle recipe (with Cinnamon Chips added to it), and Apple Pastry Bites. I loved the Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, and the leftovers were the perfect time to find out that apparently Madeline loves Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread too.

As for my contributions? I made the Baked Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomato Salad with Grilled Chicken, a recipe I shared last week, along with this Hot Bacon & Swiss Dip, which is a serious no-brainer for any gathering. I mean, really. Melted cheese and bacon? How could you go wrong?

And, because I wanted to make sure there was something that was kid-friendly, since we had three of our six kids in attendance, I made a new recipe called Million Dollar Spaghetti. Sarah’s daughter, Paige, came back for thirds, and Madeline for seconds (which pretty much never happens), so I think it’s safe to say that it is kid-approved. It’s a unique twist on lasagna, using spaghetti noodles instead, and a slightly different filling, that is the perfect main dish when you want something to make ahead. I made it earlier in the afternoon, and just popped it into the oven about half an hour before everyone came. You can find the recipe right here (the only changes I made were to use less butter and *light* ingredients where possible).

After a food prop exchange, countless photos (hello food bloggers!), shop talk, and the ensuing food coma, I’d say it was a pretty successful night. And I’m already looking forward to our Valentine’s Day get-together.

Because, well, Valentine’s Day.

Totally a favorite.

Hungry for more? Here’s the 2012 Blogger Thanksgiving Feast, and our very first one in 2011.