Menu Plan Monday

I’ve been following along, and lurking in the shadows at Laura’s Menu Plan Monday roundup at I’m An Organizing Junkie for a long time now.  I’ve menu planned (off and on) for almost a year.  It is by far one of the most simple ways you can 1) save money 2) be more organized and 3) save time.  Plus, it almost assures you that you will try new recipes.  I’m finally linking up!

So, here’s what’s on our menu for the week:

Monday: One Pot Spaghetti

Tuesday:  Homemade Pizza – here’s the recipe I’ll use for pizza dough for the rest of my life! Scroll down in the post to find it.

Wednesday:   Tacos

Thursday:  Oven-Fried Chicken 

Friday:  Breakfast for Dinner – scrambled eggs, fruit, and Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread (photo and recipe from Joy the Baker)

I mean, who wouldn’t want to eat this?  I may have to make a double batch!  

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One Pot Spaghetti

With three kids, dinner time at our house can be a flurry of activity.

“Sit down!”. “Don’t spill your milk!”. “Do you want broccoli or green beans?”. “Ok, ok, it’s almost ready!” These are often heard, much repeated phrases around the dinner table and kitchen. To make the witching hour a little less chaotic, I rely on this recipe quite a bit, especially in the winter. It is super easy to make, gives my crock pot a rest, and pleases everyone (well, there’s no pleasing my picky eater, CW, but we’re working on that one).

I found the original recipe from Lynn at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures. She actually adapted her recipe from Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie. And, now I’m giving you my version. It’s totally delish. For real.

First, go grab your ingredients:

Dice your onion and throw it in a large pot with your ground beef (or ground turkey).

Once the meat is browned, drain off any fat and add your garlic. My opinion is a little garlic is never enough. Let that simmer for just a bit, but be careful not to burn the garlic! Next, add your broth, spaghetti sauce, and water. Your pot will look awfully soupy at this point.

Go ahead and bring ‘er to a boil. Then reduce the heat and add your noodles. I typically use a mixture of half regular spaghetti noodles and half whole wheat noodles. No one knows the difference, and I sleep a little better at night.

Cover it and let it thicken on low heat. When you’ve let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, it should be nice and thick, like this:

You might find you need to add more water, and give it an occasional stir. Once it has thickened to your liking, serve it up with a little freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

This is a very hearty, flavorful, comfort food. I know, I know, it doesn’t have any fresh vegetables, and I’m even using jarred spaghetti sauce (audible gasp!). But, it makes it easy, and really delicious. We always serve it up with a fresh vegetable or salad, and some yummy bread.

One Pot Spaghetti

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic (at least!) minced
• 1 14 oz can chicken broth (or more, to taste)
• 3/4 cup water
• 10-12 ounces spaghetti noodles, broken into pieces
• Parmesan cheese

1. In a large pot with a lid, cook meat and onion together until the meat is browned, and onion is soft, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Drain any fat off, and add garlic.
3. Add broth, spaghetti sauce, and water and bring to a boil.
4. Add noodles and reduce heat.
5. Cover and cook 15-20 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir occasionally, and add more water as desired.
6. Serve with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

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