Instant Spaghetti - the Way to a Man's Heart

I grew up on spaghetti, literally. I love the stuff, well maybe not as much as I used to, but I still love it. I remember there being many, many days where I would eat it for breakfast. I'm sure there was even a day or two when I would eat it for breakfast and lunch, or maybe breakfast and dinner. Either way, I can thank my mother for making such a simple delicious sauce that I still make to this day. It couldn't be much easier and the ingredients have always been a staple in my house so if there is nothing else to eat, I always have instant spaghetti to fall back on.

First of all you need to have the following in your cupboard, at all times. I always have a supply of 8 oz. cans of Hunt's Tomato Sauce. They are just the right size for one person, if you eat alone, or make two cans which is perfect for that last minute dinner date. Now it doesn't have to be Hunt's, that just happens to be my favorite brand. The next thing you always need to have is a packet of spaghetti sauce mix. I use McCormick's Spaghetti Sauce Blend Thick/Zesty. There is also an Italian flavor available which has dried mushrooms pieces in it. I prefer the Thick/Zesty seasoning better, but have used the Italian also in a pinch. I just don't care for mushrooms that much, however, you would hardly know that there in it. Last, but not least, if you are any kind of cook, or even if you can't boil water, I would assume you have some spices in your pantry. Maybe their just there because your mother thought you should have them when you moved into your own place. Whatever the reason you should be able to throw this together.

Now, I have used this as a tactic to get dates in the past. I did not however use this one on my husband. He actually got the special treatment which was a full blown homemade meal of Beef Stroganoff and yes, it apparently sealed the deal, even if he did think, at first, that I was offering him vodka. Silly man, but love him regardless. Anyways, back to the spaghetti, which is perfect for those first dinner dates that often don't lead anywhere. What better way to show someone you can cook, without spending a lot of money, or risking ruining dinner, then a quick instant spaghetti meal.

It's now 5:30 p.m., you just got home from work and you have thirty minutes to get dinner ready before your date arrives. No need to worry with instant spaghetti. Grab your can of sauce, usually one 8 oz can per person, and pour into a small pot on the stove. Next you're going to open your packet of spaghetti cause mix and sprinkle about a tablespoon, per can, into the sauce. Now it's time to hit the spices. I usually just grab what I've got, that's italiany (is that a word?) and sprinkle some in. I use dry minced onion, garlic salt, garlic powder, parsley and if I have it, maybe toss in a little Italian seasoning mix which tends to have some oregano and basil in it to boot. I do not measure any of the ingredients because that would take too much time. Just toss a little in at a time until you get the desired flavor and eventually you will have that down to a science. The next part is easy as all you need to do now is stir and let the sauce heat up on a low setting. I say a low setting because otherwise you can get quite a mess from splattering sauce. I usually turn it up to medium high until it bubbles a little, then turn it all the way down to low and just let it simmer until it's time to eat. Now all you need to do is pick your pasta. My husband and I prefer to use angel hair pasta, but anything will do.

It's now 6:00 p.m. and your date is knocking on the door. Thanks to having to take only five minutes to throw some sauce on the stove, you can now get to know your date. You can be eating in a matter of about ten minutes now because the sauce is ready. Actually it was ready as soon as it heated through. Plate your pasta, spoon some sauce over it and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Viola, you're done and I can almost guarantee you're date will be impressed. I like to do this much better than just grabbing and heating a jar of pre-made sauce, because I just prefer the flavor to my instant sauce and so has everyone else I ever made this for.