Cheesy Spaghetti

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Once upon a time, I could not cook.

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Some might argue I still cannot. That’s for another post. This post is about how I used to REALLY not know what I was doing.

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So much so that while I was in college, I lived off of a concoction I called cheesy spaghetti. This recipe fueled my hungry, poor soul with its mere three ingredients: a pound of noodles, a pound of cheese and a splash of marinara sauce.  I ate this exclusively for, like, three years.

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I was such a monster about my cheesy spaghetti, too.I think I literally force fed this pot of crap to every friend I have ever had. Like, no one could critique me. Ask for salt & pepper and I will ask you to leave type of thing. It actually came up in conversation a couple of weeks ago. All of my friends decided to admit that they always hated the cheesy spaghetti and suffered through it so I wouldn’t get my feelings hurt. Thanks for the feedback, guys!!!

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Now if I serve someone dinner and they ask for salt and pepper, I just murder them with my eyes for the rest of the evening. I’ve evolved.

 

 

 

Time: 1 hour (prep + cooking) | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. of pasta
  • 4 tomatoes from the vine, cut in half
  • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, rinsed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 tbsp. of garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp. of olive oil
  • 2 oz. of fresh mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp. of fresh basil, chiffonaded (roll with it)
  • 1 tsp. of crushed red pepper
  • S+P, to taste

How to:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  • Arrange tomatoes on a lined baking sheet
  • Drizzle with a tbsp. of olive oil + S+P
  • Roast for 40-45 minutes
  • Once cooled, add tomatoes to a food processor
  • Add 2 tbsp. of garlic + S+P, process until almost smooth
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente, drain
  • Heat another tbsp. of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat
  • Add onion + S+P, cook for 3-4 minutes
  • Add rest of garlic, cook another minute
  • Add tomato sauce, cook for 6-7 minutes
  • Add 1/2 of the parmesan cheese + basil + crushed red pepper + S+P
  • Pour in pasta + rest of the olive oil + mozzarella, turn off the heat
  • Once combined well, serve hot with more parmesan
  • Sit in adult high chair + put on a bib + eat with your hands like the giant baby you are

11 thoughts on “Cheesy Spaghetti”

  2. koolaidmoms says:
    Reply

    Lol. This reminded me of those restaurants where if you ask for salt & pepper they give you the evil eye and whisper, “Peasant” under their breath.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Sara Ann says:
    Reply

    Tbh I always loved your cheesy spaghetti so at least you had one loyal follower from the beginning. Perhaps in part because it came from you but I recall enjoying the decadence of the dish as well. Come over & makes me this pls.

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      • lindaravello says:

        Oh Rachel – they say be careful what you wish for……….I am like a mermaid and it is NO fun! I have both my ears completely blocked and it sounds like I have seashells permanently pressed against them. They tried twice yesterday to syringe them to no avail and I now have to continue with the drops and go back on Tuesday – given that I am getting married the following Saturday, it is horrible. I can’t even hear the phone and feel like my head is going to explode………

        Like

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