How to make a simple spaghetti dinner

I know many people know how to make this simple "all American" (Italian) dish. Mines kinda "special."  I made this awhile back and documented the process as I worked on it, so I confess, I could blog about it. It was fun! And my family definitely enjoyed it (I have proof), there was HARDLY any left. 


*most measurements are guestimations. I didn't make this with a recipe  

Cooking the Noodles

1. Fill up your large spaghetti pot 3/4ths way full, throw in a bit of salt (1 T. or so) and some olive oil (1 T.). Put on stove to boil.  

2. Add one box of healthy spaghetti.  (Organic is great, or wheat) They often say one box=8 servings.  My one box=4 servings, 2 grown men and 2 ladies. We almost ate all the spaghetti.  

3. Return to boil. Cook until "al dente", about 10 mins. 

4. To make sure spaghetti is finished I always do the "wall test" (this is fun!) Take a noodle from the pot and throw it on the wall. If it sticks your spaghetti is FINISHED! 

5.  Remove from heat and drain with a colander.  Put back in giant spaghetti pot. Put a lid on it.

To keep this simple (for me explaining and for you understanding) I will keep the making of the Meat Sauce and Spaghetti separate. I actually make both simultaneously.  You can try that too.

Meat Sauce

Ingredients-

1 pound lean ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, garlic clove/ or garlic powder (and any other seasonings you so desire), one onion, one medium green pepper, one can 26 1/2 oz. tomato sauce (I used Del Monte) and oil. 

1. put the lean ground beef on the stove in a skillet or frying pan (Iron Skillets work great) Throw in a dab of oil to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.   Fry it partially. Add seasonings to flavor as desired. Shake a bit of Worcestershire sauce (maybe 2 t. to 1 T.) to add some yum-yum flavor! (optional drain any grease)

2. Dice onion, green pepper and cut the garlic clove into tiny pieces. Throw into meat and complete frying. 

3. Open the can of tomato sauce and pour into meat, onion and green pepper. Cook until simmering (simmer: little bubbles popping up in the sauce vs. boiling BIG bubbles frothing up in the sauce.)

Setting the Table

Ingredients:  

-an ethnic table cloth/piece of material  

-stemmed water glasses (got mine at the dollar store)  

-white or cream vintage plates (it's be fun to have a "set" of all non matching plates, cloth napkins that go with the table cloth  

-a flower arrangement (optional)  

-matching butter knives and forks.  

2. Place plates and glasses around the table 

3. fold the napkins simply but neatly and place in the center of the plate

4. Lay forks and butter knives on the napkin on the plate

5. Place flowers in the middle of the table

6. put down hot pads/trivets and put spaghetti and meat sauce on those onto the table. Place tongs in the spaghetti and a big serving spoon in the meat sauce.

*set out your choice of beverage

"It's Dinner Time!!"

 This is my brother Adam. He likes my spaghetti.  See, I'm showing you proof!

And he licked the platter clean. (almost!) 

Help yourself! To seconds (and thirds and 4ths....)