Southern style baked spaghetti

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 2 cans whole tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon herbs de provence ( oregano, rosemary, tyme, savory and marjoram)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar

For the Beef:

• 2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1/2 sweet onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

For the noodles:

• 1 pkg. angel hair pasta noodles OR Spaghetti noodles

Extras:

• 1 cup olives, black or green, diced (optional)
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

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Preparation

• For the Sauce:
  In a food processor, blend tomatoes and next five ingredients. Transfer mixture to a saucepan and add bay leaf, tomato paste and sugar.
• Cook over med-low heat, reducing heat to low once it starts to boil. Cover and allow to simmer while you prepare meat and noodles.
• For the Beef:
  Heat skillet of med-high heat and brown meat, adding basil, protein powder, salt and pepper (to season meat).
• Drain. Return skillet to stovetop and saute onions and bell pepper sans meat. Add meat to veggie mixture. Set aside.
  
• For the noodles:
  Cook them, al dente!
• For the Whole Shabang:
  Put cream cheese into sauce and mix until melted; add meat and olives. Add noodles to meat and sauce mixture.
• Pour into a casserole dish, 9x13, that has been sprayed with cooking spray or olive oil spray.Make sure to remove bay leaf! Add shredded cheese to top.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15- 20 minutes.

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