So I've been using jarred spaghetti sauce for about 4-5 years now, and finally thought I'd try a cheaper way out. The baby is 15 months old now, can you believe it? So I am able to sit her in her play area and let her watch one of the Your Baby Can Read dvds while I prepare a meal. Since I just threw this one together in the crock pot, it took no time at all and will be very easy to throw together come dinnertime.
Ingredients:
1 14oz can tomato sauce 1 14oz can diced tomato (mine was flavored with olive oil and garlic) 1 pound ground meat (I used turkey this time) 1 can artichoke hearts or quarters 2 fresh scallions/green onions, chopped 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 Tsp ground black pepper 1/4 tsp seasoned salt a few shakes of seasoned pepper and onion powder 1 Tbsp each fresh chopped sage and oregano 1/2 tsp fresh thyme Throw all ingredients into the crock pot. Mix together if you can; my ground turkey was still partially frozen when I put it in so I'm going to have to stir it all together in a few hours once it's cooking. Cook in slow cooker on low for 6+ hours or until dinner, then serve over freshly cooked pasta of your choice.
This is kind of a shortened version of this salad that I usually make for lunches, as I didn't have a cucumber or tomato or celery....things I normally put into it. I wasn't even going to blog it, but I figured what the hell. The baby entertained herself watching me, as this only takes about ten minutes to make.
Ingredients:
1 box of either elbow noodles or multi-colored spiral noodles 2 cans chunk light tuna in water, drained 3-4 Tbsp light mayonnaise 1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped 1 tsp seasoned salt 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1 Tbsp dry parsley or 2 Tbsp fresh pinch of dried basil Cook the pasta for 8-9 minutes in boiling water. While that is cooking, combine the other ingredients in a large bowl (preferably one that can be covered easily). When pasta is cooked, drain it and run cold water over it til it's cooled down, then add the pasta to the bowl of other ingredients. Mix all well with a large spoon and refrigerate an hour til all is cold. Eat and enjoy! Feeds 8. Feel free to add other vegetables like I suggested above.
Sounds fancy, doesn't it? That was the goal. I had an idea for this dish while I was grocery shopping, and I only actually paid about $2 for the ingredients, since I had most of this stuff at home already. The baby decided to enjoy some tummy time on her surfboard playmat while I put this together for about 20 minutes. My husband said it tasted great but could use some meat, so I think next time I make it I'll buy a hard salami and put some chunks of that into the mix. Ingredients:
1 box Penne pasta, prepared 1 cup onion, sliced lengthwise and then cut in half 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 roma tomato, chopped 1 carrot, peeled and julienned or thinly sliced 2 small (or 1 large) zucchini, cut into inch long strips 1 small yellow squash, cut into inch long strips 1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp basil 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1/8 tsp sea salt 2 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
Prepare the pasta as indicated on the box, boiling until noodles are cooked but still firm. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on low. Add all chopped vegetables to the pan and stir together well. Add spices on top of that and mix well, cooking on low for about ten minutes or at least as long as it takes to cook the pasta.
Note that in the video I mistakenly said "bay leaves" when I meant to say "basil leaves". Drain pasta and pour into a serving bowl, then add cooked vegetable mix on top. Add the Italian dressing and stir all together well. If you like, mix in 1 cup chopped hard salami. Eat and enjoy! Fair warning, because of the mostly-still-raw garlic and onion, this dish may give you a bit of gas.
I'm married to a former U.S. Navy Submariner and had my first child in September 2009. I'm currently writing a full length fantasy novel and watching more anime than is good for me, when not playing with the baby or trying a new recipe.
