Monopoly and Spaghetti

How many hours of Monopoly did you play as a kid? I played it so much I knew all the rents by heart.

My goal: buy everything, mortgage as necessary, win. I can be very competitive. {But I was the shoe in the game pictured!} There's something so fun about playing games, and I'm all about fun right now.

This week I came across a poem that I find very inspiring and have to share it with everyone.

Spaghetti is a beloved, easy-to-make dish that's a hit with families and kids. Whether it's for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal, spaghetti is always a winner. The secret lies in a rich, flavorful sauce, and this spaghetti sauce recipe, perfected over the years, is sure to become a family favorite. Plus, it freezes well for a quick meal later on, and you can even use it while camping!

How many people, when thinking of spaghetti, think of that charming scene in the movie “Lady and the Tramp” where Lady and Tramp are both slurping up the same long spaghetti noodle, ending when their lips meet in a slurpy kiss?

Who says spaghetti can’t be fun?

For most families, spaghetti is a kid pleaser and nothing could be simpler to make for dinner. Once you have spaghetti sauce in the freezer, it’s simply a matter of boiling the spaghetti and heating the sauce. And voilà! Dinner is served!

History
The pasta we call spaghetti originally came from China where it was made from either rice flour or hard wheat flour with water and salt added.

Tomatoes, on the other hand, are known to have their origins in the Americas so the first tomato sauce would have been made by the Aztecs. However, when we talk about spaghetti sauce today we are thinking about it as an Italian recipe. In fact, the earliest recipe for spaghetti sauce has been found in a cookbook printed in 1692 by Antonio Latini. Hmmm – that’s 318 years ago! Any food that survives that long has got to have something going for it!

My go-to Spaghetti Sauce recipe has evolved through the years and I release it to you as a favourite from my family to yours.

Recipe: Spaghetti

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

1 can of tomato paste
2 fresh tomatoes
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 jar of pasta sauce (my favorite is Original Ragu)
2 tablespoons oregano
¼ cup chopped, fresh basil
½ cup onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt to taste
Fresh black pepper to taste
5 small cans kidney beans (optional)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. Brown the Onions and Garlic: In a large pot, sauté the onions and garlic until soft and golden.
   
   
2. Add the Tomatoes and Sauce: Add the tomato paste, fresh tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and pasta sauce to the pot. Stir in oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
   
   
3. Simmer the Sauce: Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, transfer everything to a crockpot or slow cooker. Let the sauce simmer for two hours. This long simmering time is key to developing deep, rich flavors.
   
   
4. Add Kidney Beans (Optional): If desired, add the kidney beans to the sauce and continue simmering for another hour.
   
   
5. Cook the Spaghetti: While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. 
   
   
6. Serve and Enjoy: Spoon the sauce generously over the cooked spaghetti. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. For an extra indulgent touch, serve with cottage cheese on the side for a "lazy lasagna" feel.

Tips:

• Simmering is Key: The longer the sauce simmers, the richer and more flavorful it becomes. Make sure to give it the time it needs for the best results.
• Freezer-Friendly: This sauce freezes well, making it a great meal prep option. Simply store it in containers and pull it out whenever you need a quick, delicious dinner.

And speaking of campfires, how about a song to go with the dinner? This song, sung to the tune of “On Top of Old Smokey” was popularized in 1963 by Tom Glazer and the Do Re Me Children’s Choir.

On Top of Spaghetti

On top of spaghetti,

All covered with cheese,

I lost my poor meatball,

When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,

And on to the floor,

And then my poor meatball,

Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,

And under a bush,

And then my poor meatball,

Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty

As tasty could be,

And then the next summer,

It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,

All covered with moss,

And on it grew meatballs,

And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,

All covered with cheese,

Hold on to your meatball,

Whenever you sneeze.

More to Explore:

• Index of Recipes
• Visual Recipe Index