What's for dinner? Monday

I cant believe its Monday already. I've had a terrifically terrible weekend, and it seems to have stretched forever, even though its a long weekend, it feels like its gone on for a week.

Tonight I feel like some home made, feel good food for dinner. So a really cheap yet cheerful meal is on the menu.

Chilli Spaghetti

Spaghetti for the number of people being served. I'm a chuck the whole pack in type of girl, so adjust for your needs. Note, I love this and will eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner with no qualms.

A red chilli (If you cant get fresh, I have used chilli from a jar, not sweet chilli or powdered though)
Parsley, I like continental
Garlic, ( I have a jar of it in the fridge, so I'll use that)
Olive Oil
Butter

Cook the spaghetti as per instructions on the packet

In a small saucpan melt butter and olive oil. (sorry I dont have amounts, you will have to use what you feel is adequate)

Cook the garlic (1 tsp?) and the red chilli that has been deseeded and chopped very finely, unless you love big bits of chilli in your mouth. Add the chopped parsley before these brown, and pour over the drained spaghetti and stir.

Sprinkle with your favourite cheese that you like on pasta.

This meal wouldn't cost more than $5 if you buy cheap pasta. I can get a kilo for just over a dollar here. That feeds a lot of people. You dont need the pasta saturated with the sauce, just a taste worth, kwim?

What's for dinner tonight? - Monday

Dd and I cooked dinner together. We made bolegnaise sauce with veges in it. Very healthy. Eaten with spiral pasta as someone has an aversion to spaghetti, with all those vegetables it has to be healthy.

Pasta sauce Recipe

500g lean mince
2 400g cans diced tomatoes
2 zucchini - grated
1 carrot - grated
1 red capsicum (pepper) diced, eenty teeny tiny
1 tsp garlic
1 tbsp pesto
salt and pepper

Cook mince in saucepan till brown, add garlic. Add zucchini, carrot and capsicum, and cook till soft. Add cans of diced tomatoes and mix well. Add pesto. Season to taste. Allow to cook gently till pasta is cooked as per packet instructions.

Serve with cheese.

This makes a lot of food. Enough to freeze for another night.

Eat and Enjoy

Minced Beef and Noodle Casserole

This is an old family favourite.

Temperature: 180 degrees Celcius

Ingredients

250g angel hair pasta
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 clove garlic
180g grated cheese
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp mixed herbs
2 cups water
500g minced beef
2 tbsp cornflour
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tbsp oil
2 beef stock cubes
salt and pepper

Method

Cook noodles in boiling salted water untill tender and train.

Heat oil, brown mince and garlic, stirring frequently.

Dissolve stock cubes in water, and add to meat. Add tomoato sauce and herbs. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Thicken with cornflour blended with a little water.

Season to taste.

Put half of the noodles in an ovenproof casserole dish, cover with half of the meat mixture. Repeat the layers.

Sprinkle the top with the cheese and paprika and cook at 180c for one hour.

Eat and enjoy.