The Heavenly Hearth

Have you ever had those days when you just wake up in the morning and everything just seems to be wrong, just off?

It starts with the wrong side of the bed, goes on to everything going horribly off track, the tiniest things annoying you,  you begin to get frustrated with your deadlines, and moves on to profound things like you starting to question you life decisions and ends with when you just want to crawl back into bed just so that day is over?

Or what I call it, every Tuesday of my life.

Even if not on a Tuesday, such days seem to arrive once every couple of weeks. Such days combined with the surviving through Mumbai monsoon can be a deadly soul crushing combination.

The only full proof way I have found to deal with such days is to counter it with soul comforting food. Something that was taught to me by the best friend, it has never failed to bring a smile to my face. Not just because it is always easy to prepare, or that it tastes like Italian heaven, but also because you have that free hand of how much cheese you can sprinkle over your serving. (No, I am not ashamed)

Ladies and Gents, I present (rhyme!) the robust Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Serves : 2 very hungry people/4 moderately hungry people.
Difficulty : Easy Peasy
Preparation Time : 5 minutes.
Cook Time : 25-35 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp of Olive Oil
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 2 large Onions
• 250-300 grams of minced meat (I used Chicken)
• 400 grams of Tomato Puree
• 2-3 Basil Leaves
• 1 tsp of Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp of Mixed Italian Herbs
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• Salt to taste
• 200 grams of Spaghetti (for 2 people)
• Cheese (Processed/Parmesan, any quantity)

Slice up the garlic.

Throw it into a pan of warm olive oil.

Let the onions jump in after the garlic. Mix everything through, make sure the onion and garlic is coated with the oil.

Then putting the heat on low, walk off like you don’t care.

Caramelized onions boss! Of course we care!

Come running back in 7-10 minutes and find that the onions have completely caramelized.

Add the meat mince to the caramelized onions. I’ve used regular chicken minced meat (Fine! Chicken kheema like the mother calls it)

A light mix and we let the chicken continue cooking by itself on low heat.

And coz’ we like we shoulda put a lid on it. (Beyonce, now there is a song!)

But no seriously, put a lid on the pan and let the meat cook through for 10-12 minutes. Once you un-lid the pan, you’ll see that the chicken has released some of its retained water. Let it cook through in the same for a few minutes more.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions and keep em’ ready.

Once the meat looks cooked through, squirt in the tomato puree and give it a light stir.

Season with salt. And like I had mentioned in my Pasta with Tomato Sauce post, add in a tablespoon of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomato puree. (Though you can completely skip this if you enjoy that acidic bite)

While this simmers, grab a few basil leaves.

And chop up some basil yo.

Drop it into the sauce for that basil hint.

Follow it up with a generous sprinkle of dried oregano and/or even a sprinkle of mixed Italian herbs. Whatever floats your boat.

Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Give the sauce a taste, adjust seasonings if necessary.

Load up the plate with spaghetti, laddle out generous servings of the meat sauce over them.

And for the best part, sprinkle over grated cheese on the meat sauce.

As per requirement, of course. (Psst. I sit with a bowl of grated cheese on the side, just in case)

Top it with a tiny sprig of basil to make it look sophisticated for just that one second.

And then please proceed to attack it and follow it up with slurps, shamelessly dropping tomato sauce on your shirt while slurping and chugging down that glass of Coke or Kiwi Cooler.

Nothing says comfort food like unsophisticated dining.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, a sure shot during this season. Go for it!