Saturday 24 March 2012

Quick spaghetti supper

After a busy day of cooking, you turn around and ask yourself "What's for dinner?", or your partner asks, or the kids are asking. 

Huh...

Enter Quick Spaghetti!  I don't know about you, but at our house spaghetti sauce is a sure-shot.  Everyone eats.  Many take second servings.  All are happy and full afterward.

Ingredients lined up, beef browning in the pot.
This is what I threw together tonight and called it supper.  You can put just about whatever you have in the fridge in it (even bacon!).

Quick Spaghetti
from ME
1 lb ground beef, chicken or pork (or 1 pkg firm tofu or alternative mentioned below)
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 bottle prepared spag sauce (I used Ragu, it's what I had in the house today)
Italian seasoning, S&P to taste (may need a tsp or two of sugar to taste)
- brown beef and drain if needed
- add onions and garlic to pan for a few minutes on medium heat
- add tomato paste and let cook for a minute or two
- shake on italian seasoning, S&P, sugar if needed
- simmer as long as you can (may be 10 minutes, may be an hour - stir and don't let burn)
- serve with your favourite pasta shape

Note on meat and alternatives for this dish: you can use 1 lb ground meat of choice, 1 pkg firm tofu broken up very small with your hands, 1 can green lentils or 1 can beans of choice, mashed a bit (black, kidney, romano).  They do sell a soy product (in my grocery stores it's found at the end of the produce refrigerated section) that imitates ground beef.  I have found that this particular brand (Yves) upsets my stomach intensely.  I'm not saying you can't try it, obviously it's working for someone because they keep selling it. Anyhow, after repeated attempts I have narrowed it down to this brand and I simply avoid it.

What are some of your quick go-to meals out of the pantry?

1 comment:

  1. I never think to make a quick spaghetti sauce... I guess because I usually have sauce in the freezer. I tried canning it but wasn't pleased with the results so have to try a different recipe. I like to use brown lentils as they kind of remind me of ground beef (if you have a really good imagination).

    Quesidillas are always quick to make. I also have a great recipe for soft veggie tacos that is fast as well as a vegetarian chili that is awesome.

    Snobby joes (sloppy joes with lentils) are a quick fix too.

    Let me know if you want any of these recipes.

    ReplyDelete