To everyone who didn’t get the title reference: Go out right now and rent A League of their Own.
Seriously. Go!
To everyone else who is still here:
I thought I should dedicate a post to one of my favorite comfort meals– whole-wheat spaghetti drenched in tomato sauce. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s healthy, and, most importantly, it tastes so good!
My Italian grandmother would be appalled if she learned how I like to prepare my spaghetti. Are you ready for this?
I boil and drain a serving of pasta, then I put it in a dish (like the white dish in most of the pictures) and mix it with about 2/3 of a mini-can of Hunts’ basil-garlic tomato sauce. Then I cover the dish (usually, I just place it in a gallon-sized Ziploc-type bag) and put it aside to “marinate” for a few hours. This makes the pasta taste (to use my dad’s words) “gummy” but that’s exactly the texture I’m looking for! I feel like spaghetti doesn’t hold sauce well unless you let it sit for a while.
Ok, can someone go offer my grandma some smelling salts? Thanks.
Below, some pasta meals I’ve enjoyed over the last few months:
(With steamed broccoli, Old El Paso refried beans, and steamed asparagus dipped in Whole Foods’ 365 steak sauce)
(With Tree of Life smoked tofu and steamed green beans and mushrooms)
(With steamed broccoli and black-eyed-peas)
(With asparagus and an Amy’s Bistro Burger that I cut in 1/2 lengthwise, because it wasn’t cooking in the middle)
(With zucchini mixed in… and yes, those are disposable chopsticks. But please don’t yell at me; I rarely ever use ‘em)
(With Swiss chard and some homemade seitan that I put bread crumbs on and baked– so yummy!)
Ha, everything I “prepare” would appall people who actually cook. Let’s just say the microwave is my best friend…
mmm you’ve got me hankering for some spaghetti. i LOVE league of their own!!!!
i totally hear ya about the schoolwork– my classes are definitely interferring with my blog life haha
have a great night!
I LOVE “A League of Their Own”!! Definitely a movie I could watch over and over again!
And I hear ya on tough classes, so I empathize with you COMPLETELY!
~Erin
I’m sorry, but I’m with your Grandma on the pasta being gummy
(pass the smelling salts please!).
The rest of your dishes however, look yummy!
omg, i used to watch a league of their own at least once a day when i was younger. hahahahaha…i love geena davis, and madonna was hularious w/ rosie…heheheh…i htink i might have to watch it tonight!!! because OF COURSE i OWN IT!
and your spaghetti and variety of side dishes are rad…!
g’luck w/ school!!!
When I was in college I used to get this Kraft Spaghetti in a box with a little wee can of tomato sauce and this packet of “real” parmesan cheese. I loved it and my father (my Italian half) would have freaked if he ever knew!
love those beautiful meals!!!
Gluck with all of your classes CCV!!
Betty Spaghetti is pretty cool, but I also liked “All the Way May.” Hehe–great flick.
While I’m not a fan of yummy pasta, I think your way of preparing it is very unique and, hey, to each their own I suppose!
Good luck with your hard classes- you’ll get through it.
That’s quite an interesting technique for making spaghetti!
I’m sure that my Italian grandpa would roll his eyes at the thought of it as well…
However, he thinks I’m crazy for having pasta without meat, so who is he to judge?!
Anyway, best of luck with your class – I’m sure you’ll do just fine! Try to enjoy the work – I swear you’ll miss it when it’s all over… Then again, maybe I’m just a nerd that way
i’m going to punch the next person who says you don’t eat enough in the face!
well, not really, i’d ever do that. but i will tell them they’re wrong!
looovvve spaghetti.
I SOOOOOOO WANNA MOVE IN WITH YOU.
is that weird?
yummmmmmmmmm. looks delicious, except I would never be able to eat gummy pasta. I’m an al dente girl all the way!
Guess what I have for dinner today?!!! Spaghetti with tomato sauce, sprinkled with nooch, haha – see, your post had such a major impact on me :0)
Regarding your response – :0( You don't deserve to be put down like this!!! It is really upsetting that people think that it is alright to make such a cruel comment without knowing you *hugz* I know how it feels like – I get really 'snappy' when strangers make a comment about my weight … but sigh, what can I (we) do??
Hope you have a great day, Katie!!! <3
Haha! I LOVE A League of there Own!
MARLA HOOCH!
Nothing beats spaghetti with marinara!
@ Lauren: Now you have that song she sings at the bar stuck in my head!
“Some others I’ve seeeeEEEEeeeEEEn….”
Now let’s make like a bread truck and haul buns!
Funnily enough A League of their Own was on our TV last Saturday night LOL
You would think I am Italian the amount of pasta that I eat. I throw the water out the pasta when nearly al dente, add the sauce and cook for a few minutes, I also then get the sauce absorbed a bit. I shall try your way as well.
Happy studying
Haha! That part is great! “Has anyone seen my red hat?” “Oh piss on your red hat!” Haha! My friend and I always say “WILL YOU SHUT UP”..like when John Luvitz is talking to the cows..ha!
Hey Betty! I love that movie.
I agree that whole wheat spaghetti is miles above the all purpose wheat version of spaghetti. Your photos make me want to ditch my pasta hating ways.
we love you, too! and all that glorious spaghetti! yay!
have fun this semester – and study hard! yay!
A League of Their Own…..great movie!!!
Huh! Interesting spaghetti preparation! I like my noodles barely cooked. I call it al dente. But my boyfriend calls it raw. Anyway, isn’t that Hunt’s basil-garlic tomato sauce awesome?! I love that stuff.
Mmm spaghetti! I’m making some tonight with Trader Joe’s mushroom marinara sauce, with baked sweet potato and steamed spinach on the side!! (Haha I get way too excited about food)
Good luck with all your schoolwork! I am definitely in the same boat…
I have some Eddie’s Spaghetti pasta – you two should hook up!
Good luck this semester!
what about the “meat”balls? that’s what this post gets me in the mood for! i want to take a bath in a tub full of spaghetti noodles…is that weird??
Hmm, your “marinating” thing sounds a little weird to me, but whatever works for you! Coming from an Italian family, I know my grandfather would also shudder at the thought of marinated pasta. =P haha. The way my mom makes pasta is that she always puts the sauce on top and never mixes it in, so that’s the way I’m used to it. Hmm, now I’m also hungry for spaghetti! I’m interested to see your day-long food diary. Good luck with your classes!
Mmmm… spaghetti… I love it! It’s so nice, one of my favourite foods ever. Yours looks delicious too; I especially like the first photos meal that looks so good!
I really like that spaghetti “marinating” idea. I’ll have to try it sometime, sounds good and easy! Key criteria for a great dinner dish
I’m a spaghetti gal, too–I eat it at least once a week (and usually more often than that!)
You’re great at making sure you balance protein, starch and veg
You are right. Spaghetti is a great comfort food. I love it with just olive oil and garlic, and a touch of fresh basil.
I have you on my blogroll list. If that is not ok please let me know at rhodeygirltests at gmail dot com!
thanks, and happy friday!!!!
http://www.rhodeygirltests.com
Oh my goodness that’s a lot of pasta!! I’d probably eat it way more often except John doesn’t like it. So I will live through your pasta experience…
“There’s no crying in baseball!” A truly great movie
Honestly, I’ve no idea how you actually consume that much food in one sitting, I’m full just looking at your meals!
Awww your night sounds so lovely, which add ins did you incoorporate into the tofu cocoa pudding? Love the spagetti, I always though you only liked grains like oats, barly, spelt, etc. and bread!
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is it weird i love seeing how much you can eat? lol
not sure if id like it “gummy” but the marinating sounds like a good idea.