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It must be that time of year where people want something comforting, as I’ve read a few other bloggers posts about this same recipe. It was featured on the Rachael Ray Show, as well as in the November issue of the magazine.
I did a "kitchen sink" approach to the recipe, aka clean out the refrigerator, so I added some chopped celery to the vegetables, used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and fresh chopped spinach instead of parsley. For Don I threw in some chopped green and black olives and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
Otherwise, I pretty much followed the recipe. It took a little longer than 12 minutes for the spaghetti to cook, and in the process, some of the liquid evaporated (even though I had a lid on the pot). In fact, it was almost like risotto, in that I’d add a splash of water, and when I checked on it, the liquid had absorbed so I had to add more. In the end, it wasn’t like a soup or a stew or a stoup even, just more like plain spaghetti. The main thing was that it tasted good!
What I’d do differently next time…even though I used thin spaghetti, I’d use something thinner like angel hair or Mexican fideo pasta. Or just boil the pasta separately.
I have a few meatballs leftover so I’m going to see if I can use them in Chicken Parm Subs. I’m anxious to try something from the 2,4,6,8 cookbook.
There was an article in yesterday’s Dallas Morning News, about someone’s attempt at cooking a Rachael meal in 30 minutes. It took her an hour, or an hour & forty minutes, including prep time. I always enjoy reading these stories because it makes me feel like less of a klutz in the kitchen. Even though Rachael says if she can do it, anyone can, I still feel inept when I try to put together a full-fledged 30 minute meal. I’m not good at multitasking. I’ve gotten better at getting things ready beforehand, including washing produce when I get it home from the store. Anyway, the story from the paper comes across as honest, and although it takes the person longer than 30 minutes to prepare the meal, it’s not in the context of putting Rachael down for unrealistic time frames, like some other articles have done.
I’m one of those people that has a hard time throwing things away. I had a coupon for a free loaf of French bread from Albertson’s, and I actually remembered to use it. It was the worst French bread I’ve ever had. But I couldn’t throw it away (even though it was free). I put it in the freezer thinking I could make bread pudding with it. Just before Thanksgiving, there was a Paula show that featured "Baked French Toast Casserole," and I’d printed out the recipe since the holidays were coming up and it looked like something that would be perfect for a brunch. Then I remembered I had the bread in the freezer. I know it’s such an obvious thing, but often times my brain is not coordinated enough to put 2 and 2 together and remember what ingredients I have plus what recipes I set aside.Anyway, it’s one of those "overnight" casseroles where you slice the bread, mix up a custard sauce and pour it over, and let it sit in the refrigerator. Then the next morning, you mix up a praline topping, spread it on top, and bake it. There’s also a raspberry sauce that comes with the recipe, but we thought the french toast would be sweet enough without it. I ended up putting some syrup on mine anyway, for the gooey factor.
This was really good, very simple, and looked nice. I was afraid it would be dry but surprisingly it was moist in the center, crunchy on the edges. I’m going to use the same topping and put it on cinnamon rolls, and see what happens.
Some of the books on my reading list have been available at the local library. I just finished "Heat" by Bill Buford. I enjoyed the "inside view" of things but found it quite disillusioning to read of his impressions of Mario Batali. I guess some of it is the "celebrity image" we have in our minds vs. the "real person." I had reserved Anthony Bourdain's "The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones" online from the library. Shortly after I placed the hold, I got a call from them, saying "The Nasty Bits" was in. I could literally hear the person on the other end, struggling to stifle a giggle, and the tone in her voice implied "what the heck kind of book is this." Because of the holiday and national day of mourning, I didn't get to the library until today. I checked at the front desk and they didn't have it. I went upstairs to the racks and it wasn't in the 641's. So I went to the other information desk where I was referred to, and inquired there. The librarian didn't have it but asked my name and the title of the book. I must lisp and she started writing down..."The Nasty..." and then asked me to spell...B...I...T...C...!!! Hold on! I quickly corrected her, it's "Bits." Eventually we found the book in the "new releases" section. How embarrassing. Keep in mind that this is the South. And I live in a dry county. Lots of things I took for granted from my Berkeley upbringing, are frowned upon or not understood here. I thought it was such a "Tony" moment.
It must be that time of year where people want something comforting, as I’ve read a few other bloggers posts about this same recipe. It was featured on the Rachael Ray Show, as well as in the November issue of the magazine.
