Thursday, May 5, 2011

What Do You Cook With?

As you can see from some of my previous posts and in photos, I use a certain type of cookware.

This is Belgique!! You can find it here. My mom gifted it to Joey and I for Hanukah in 2009.

It is SUPER!

It is always great to invest in some great, durable cookware.

                                             
Next on my wish list - cast iron set. I am looking at the Lodge cast iron sets. Pre-seasoned (I want to learn how to season one someday), and these last a lifetime!  The Lodge brand has gotten rave reviews and I am looking forward to getting some of these soon! The food tastes better, you get them SUPER hot and they make a great sear on a steak, and veggies can stay crispy but smoky at the same time! The possibilities are endless!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Homemade (Semi) Spaghetti

Can you boil water? Can you brown beef?

Perfect. You can make this spaghetti.

Growing up, I was always requesting my dad's and my grandmother's "homemade" spaghetti. I thought it was so delicious, with all the seasoning and right flavors and the great taste of the beef.

Well, they definitely had me fooled. This dish takes 5 ingredients. And technically, does a packet of spaghetti seasoning count?

No? Well, here it is. The "famous homemade" spaghetti.

Tastes like it has been simmering all day, in only 15 minutes.

1 packet "Thick & Zesty" Spaghetti seasoning (you don't even have to go name brand here, Kroger works great)
1 pound ground beef (you can substitute any thing - ground pork, turkey, chuck, etc)
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 1/2 cups water

Brown beef. Drain. Stir in water, seasoning, and tomato paste. Cover, simmer for 15 minutes.
While it is simmering, cook your pasta of choice. For this particular evening, I used thin spaghetti.

Drain pasta.

Pile pasta on plate, top with sauce.

Throw on some grated parm if you please.

The end. You will love it.