Elizabeth's Spaghetti Bolognese

Freaking awesome!

We needed some comfort food Friday night, so here is what I came up with:

Elizabeth's Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 14-ounce can Cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• sprinkle of salt
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 14-ounce can San Marzano cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
• 1 lb whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1/4 cup freshly shaved Romano cheese

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
2. Get all your ingredients in place (Mise En Place)
3. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Then add carrot, celery, ground beef and salt. Break down the ground beef, cover and cook, stirring to brown evenly, for about 10 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes and their juices and add the wine. Let the tomatoes pop open.
6. Add bay leaves, basil, thyme, and 1/8 cup parsely. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally. 
7. Take half, or 7 ounces, of the Canellini beans and mash them in a bowl. Add the bean mash to the sauce to thicken it.
8. While sauce cooks, add spaghetti to the pot of boiling water. Cook to al dente, about 10 minutes.
9. Drain pasta.
10. Add the remaining beans to the sauce, and stir in.
11. Divide pasta into 4 bowls, top each with some sauce, some of the remaining chopped parsely, and some freshly shaved Romano cheese.

Enjoy! Very filling and full of good veggies & fiber.

ginger beer drinks

There is probably nothing more refreshing in the summer than Ginger Beer cocktails.



My brand of Ginger Beer – Reeds.
Photo from http://cilantropist.blogspot.com/



Here are some of my fav ginger beer cocktails.

Moscow Mule.

Moscow Mule Recipe from Oprah.com

Originally served in a copper cup in the mid - 1940’s to make it stand out in a crowd. Still sometimes served in a copper mug, but since they often cost more than the drink – many bars make you lay down some collateral. Oprah brough this back a few years ago, here is her Moscow Mule Recipe

 

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 tsp. sugar syrup
• Fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup ginger beer
• 1 sprig fresh mint
• 1 slice of lime

Directions: In a copper mug, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice.

Dark & Stormy. 

Photo & recipe from dreamydish.com

Love sipping on a beach. Rarely have rum in the house, but I could drink these all the time and be a happy lady. Here is a recipe from DreamyDish.com

• 4 oz. dark rum (or double it if you are feeling bold)
• 2 bottles of your favorite ginger beer
• 2 Limes

Directions: In two tall glasses, fill with ice, divide rum amongst glasses, fill with ginger beer, and squeeze half a lime into each glass. Stir, add a lime wedge if desired, and enjoy!

Bourbon Orange Cocktail.

Photo from My Life as a Mrs.

Found this recipe on Pinterest, and my frugality won out and I made a knock off version.

• 4 oz. bourbon
• 1 bottle of Reed's ginger beer
• 4 oz. Orange Juice

Directions: In two tall glasses, fill with ice, divide bourbon amongst glasses, fill each glass with half a bottleginger beer, and top with orange juice. Stir and enjoy!