Pasta Meal: Bachelor vs Newlywed

While we were dating, my husband would make his 'famous' meat sauce pasta. After a few times having it I helped make it even more delicious and healthy. Both versions of this recipe are quick, delicious and can impress your girlfriend, family, and friends.

This is also a great recipe to get started experimenting in the kitchen. The ingredients aren't too daunting and the instructions aren't complicated.

The Original Bachelor Recipe 

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground beef
1 box of angel hair pasta
4 cups Prego marinara sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the same instructions as the Newlywed Recipe, just skip all the vegetables!

The Newlywed Recipe
Serves 6. Pasta serving size 2 cups (513g): 574 kCal, 15g fat, 73g carbs, 37g protein, 80mg cholesterol, 1419mg sodium. Slice of Garlic Bread using french bread: 194 kCal, 15g Fat, 2g carbs, 13g protein, 29mg cholesterol, 611mg sodium. Calculated at MyNetDiary.com based on ingredients. Information will differ based on your brand choices.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground turkey
1 box of whole wheat pasta
4 cups Prego marinara sauce
1 onion, diced
3 gloves of garlic, sliced or chopped
1 can diced tomatoes (Hunt's No Salt Added)
1/2 bunch fresh parsley, coarsely chopped (or substitute with 3 Tbl dried parsley)
3 Tbl Italian seasonings

French or Sourdough bread, sliced
Butter or margarine
Grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start the Water
Fill a large pot of water for the pasta.
Add a sprinkling of salt to the water.

This adds some flavor and helps the pasta cook faster. How? Salt raises the temperature at which water boils. It will take longer to start a boil, but the temperature will be higher causing the pasta to cook faster. Pretty neat, eh? Something you learned in high school chemistry actually can be used in everyday life ;)

2. Yum, Meat!
Place a large skillet on high heat to get hot.
When it's hot, add the diced onions and garlic cloves.
Saute (cook and stir it every minute or so) till the onions get translucent.
Add the meat into the pan.
Crumble it into small pieces with the back of your spoon.
Stir till meat, onions, and garlic are well mixed.
Add the Italian seasonings and stir well, continue to crumble with the back of your spoon.
Cook the meat, stirring occasionally tills its no longer raw and it gets brown and a lil crispy.

3. Prep the Pasta
When the pasta water is boiling, add your pasta.
Set a timer for the suggested cooking time on your package. Usually 4-12 minutes depending on the type of pasta.
When the pasta is done, drain it in a colander. DO NOT RINSE IT!

4. Let's get Saucy!
Once the meat has cooked, add the diced tomatoes including any juice, marinara, and parsley.
Reduce heat to medium and stir occasionally to make sure all the flavors mingle.

5. Garlic Bread
Set your oven to Broil.
On a baking sheet, layout slices of bread.
Spread each slice with butter or margarine.
Sprinkle each slice with a little of Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese.
Place in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until the bread turns golden brown and the cheese melts. Be careful not to burn them!

You can finish off the pasta by adding the pasta to the sauce, gently stirring to mix everything well. Or you can serve the pasta and sauce separately to each individual's taste. Garnish with some grated Parmesan cheese and a sprig of parsley.