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Jar Less Spag Bog




Yes to the modern cook it is actually possible to make a delicious Spaghetti Bolognaise, or Spag Bog as it is called in our house without the use of a single jar of off the shelf, and its just as quick and easy with a couple of great little flavour enhancers.

INGREDIENTS:

500gm mince
1 onion
2 tomatoes
3 mushrooms
1 beef stock cube or beef gravy mix
1 cup red wine
1 spoon of crushed garlic
1 spoon of basil pesto
150ml cream

Flat pasta - special cheat below

Grated parmesan

METHOD:

Big pot of water goes on to start boiling first so its ready for the pasta.

In that great heavy based pan with a nice dash of olive oil - throw in the finely diced onions, especially if you have children then they can't find them and pick them out.  Then the finely sliced mushrooms, and finally the tomatoes.  The only reason to this order is that tomatoes are more liquid and the chopping board gets slippery and therefore a little dangerous when you have a sharp knife. No culinary reason, just easier.

Now add the mince, crumble it up with your fingers so its not in a big clunk.  Then use your spatula, or egg slice to break it up further while it browns.  The flavours of the vegetables go into the mince this way so it tastes better.

Add in the beef stock cube but if you don't have one or you want a change a spoon of gravy powder or granules will work too.  Then the wine, crushed garlic and basil.  The smells at this stage will be amazing.  keep stirring it and breaking up the mince so its a lovely fine sauce.

Finally add a small amount of cream, about 100 to 150 ml is great and it just blends it all together.

When the water comes to the boil, throw in the pasta. Now, this is your choice. Thin spaghetti for the purists, macaroni for the children so they don't slurp, fresh or dried, its up to you.

One of my favourites is when I've bought fresh lasagna sheets, and then run out of time to make the lasagna, I lay the sheets on a board, and with a pizza wheel slice the sheets into 1cm slices and then throw them into the boiling water. You finish up with fresh tagliatelle pasta!  And you can claim its home made as you cut it up.

Pile the pasta on the plate, add the beautiful rich sauce and some grated cheese.


Dobru Chut


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