This is a busy time of year, with Christmas shopping, putting up decorations for the holiday, preparing for Christmas parties, wrapping gifts and writing Christmas cards. All those activities can leave you with little time to prepare large meals for dinner.
If you’re looking for some easy-to-make, yet tasty meals to serve during those hectic times, here are two pasta ideas that may come in handy. They’re also inexpensive to make, saving you a little money during what can be a costly time of year.
You’ll probably like the dishes so much you’ll want to make them throughout the year. Serve the pasta with a salad and garlic bread for a nourishing meal your friends and family are sure to enjoy.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
3 1/2 cups diced canned tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup water
18-ounce package spaghetti
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Cook chopped onion in oil in large skillet for about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally until meat loses its pink color.
Stir in garlic powder, salt, pepper and tomatoes. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Add chili powder and water.
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Cook spaghetti according to package direction. When done, rinse spaghetti in colander in cool water and drain well.
Place half of the cooked spaghetti in a greased 2-quart casserole and pour on half of the sauce; sprinkle with half of the cheese. Repeat.
Bake, covered, 35 minutes and then uncover and bake 15 minutes longer or until brown. Makes 6 servings.
SPAGHETTI WITH WHITE CLAM SAUCE
1 (7-ounce) package spaghetti
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 (6.5-ounce) cans minced clams, undrained
1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
Additional chopped fresh parsley
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Meanwhile, in a 1-1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook garlic in butter about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light golden.
Stir in 2 tablespoons parsley, clams and mushrooms. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes.
Drain spaghetti. In large bowl, put half of the Parmesan cheese on spaghetti and lightly stir. Then pour sauce over spaghetti; toss. Sprinkle with additional parsley and remaining Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings
Brotherton offers website readers one or more stellar recipes a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature. Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email her at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and she’ll see if she has it.
