Spaggilly Boggilly (Emergency Dinners)

Member Name: harmonyk

Product:	Emergency Dinners
Date:	28/01/02 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to prepare, hearty and can be inexpensive.

Disadvantages: No room for pudding after this lot!

Emergency recipes? No problem - my good old favourite will always save the day!

Since first writing this opinion I have remembered a few extras that can be added - if you have been paying attention you might just spot them! Read on Macduff....

Right - so there I was - expecting a nice quiet evening in watching Corrie and being fed peeled grapes by my beloved partner, when all of a sudden the phone shatters my illusions and a large group of our good friends from Dooyoo announce there is to be an impromptu meeting of members - and guess what? It's at my place! and guess what else? It's tonight!!! Oh **X*&!!!@@@** (drat) I thought. What can I do to keep these poor (well most Dooyooers are - aren't we?) folk from starving on this long cold Winter's night?

I thought about the chip shop - na - too exotic. How about chinese? na - too expensive. I know - how about my world famous recipe for spag bol? What do you mean you never heard of it? I'll have you know my spaghetti bolognaise is an award winning dish the like of which princes and such like flock to my door for just a whiff of it's fragrant aroma!

Actually I'm lying - it never won any awards and the only Prince that came sniffing was a manky dog up the road after my lovely pooch Flossy. I digress...here is my emergency recipe - used (in various forms) on all occasions from everyday supper to dinner parties - it's always a winner.

For 2 greedy, 4 hungry, or 6 people who have already eaten and are trying to be polite!

INGREDIENTS

1lb of minced beef (the best you can buy - I usually have a pack in the freezer - defrosts in around 15 minutes in microwave)

OR (for vegetarians - I tried this and it's great!)

A packet of soya mince

1 or 2 slices of bacon (not for Vegetarians)finely chopped (optional)

500grams pasta (fresh spaghetti if possible but dried in an emergency)

>Dollop (I love that word!) of tomatoe puree
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 onion
I clove of crushed garlic (optional)
1 carrot (optional)
1 stick of celery (optional)
Diced mushroom or two (optional)*
1 Oxo cube
1/4 pound finely chopped mushrooms (optional)
olive oil
Dash of red wine (optional)
1 cup of milk (yes really)
Fresh herbs such as oregano (optional)
seasoning)

*Normal mushrooms are fine but I like to use Ceps which are a wild mushroom that I pick in the New Forest during the Autumn, dry, chop and re-constitute in warm water to use.

INSTRUCTIONS

Boil a big pan of slightly salted water. Whilst that's coming to the boil, in another pan, brown the chopped onion (garlic, carrot & celery) in a little olive oil. Brown the mince (and chopped bacon), add tomato puree, tinned tomatoes, optional mushrooms and the oxo cube, season and add the red wine (for special occasions) and milk(I kid you not - this was told me by a genuine Italian woman - although she didn't use onions!) Cover pan with lid and simmer gently for around 10 - 15 minutes - no, not you silly, the mince!

Back to the water - when it is boiling add the pasta - boil until soft on the outside and a bit hard (al dente) in the middle (wot a load of twaddle! Cook it until it's done! Serve pasta in big warmed bowls and ladle copious quantities of bolognaise mince on top. Sprinkle parmesan cheese if desired (or grated cheddar if preferred!)

Get a ridiculously big pepper grinder and pretend to be Italian - waving it around trying not to knock out your guests with it (unless they make derogatory remarks about the food).

Serve with garlic bread and tossed green salad - and of course wash it down with a nice little Chianti or something similar (NO - NOT THE SALAD!!)

This takes me about 15 - 20 minutes to cook. Everyone loves it - whether it be the quicky version (minus all the option
al extras) or the full Monty.

It seems to be popular with both adults and children and you can find most of the essential ingredients in your larder (go on - take a look!)

Dessert?

Well you are unlikly to need it after my spag bol but a good quicky for those greedy guts amongst you would be an impromptu trifle. Leftover sponge cake - soaking in a dash of sherry leftover from Christmas, a dollop or two of strawberry jam, tin of fruit cocktail, cover the lot with a made up pack of Birds Angel Delight - and a liberal squidge of squirty cream - decorate with anything you have handy in the larder - NO NOT THE LENTILS!!! There you have it - instant trifle - now see if you have room to eat it - bet you can't!

Leftovers?

Should you find yourself in the unlikely position of having some of the 'bol' left over, I would suggest heating it up the next day and pouring over a cooked jacket spud and sprinking with cheddar - bake in oven to melt cheese - makes a super lunch with a crunchy salad - or a tasty supper (if you can keep your hands off it that long!)

Bueno appetito (?)

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