Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey is an adorable small town read. Piper and her sister, Hannah, go back to the small sea town in Washington they left when their father passed away. Piper is learning how to navigate life independently and trying to figure out what to do with the bar and apartment that were once her fathers. Within minutes of being back she runs into the small town grump, Brendan. He does not think Piper has what it takes to live in his town when she seems like she belongs in a big city.

Part of being on your own is knowing how to cook. Piper has never really cooked anything before moving back to her hometown. However, Piper wants to cook a meal for her sister as a thank you for helping her during this difficult time. She runs into Brendan at the store. He catches her completely flustered over what to buy and make for her sister. Brendan helps her get the ingredients and explains how to make Bolognese sauce. This scene was my inspiration to make spaghetti with bolognese sauce.

Unlike in the book, mine came out edible and burnt free. One of my favorite cuisines to cook is Italian. It probably helps that my family is Italian and I find cooking Italian dishes to be fun. I also love the smell of onion and garlic. Smelling onion and garlic while it is cooking can have a calming effect for me.

My book boyfriend does really enjoy the majority of the Italian dishes that I cook. I usually make some kind of a red sauce dish at least once a week. After I read the scene when Piper not just burnt, but set the meat and pan on fire, I knew I had to make this sauce. I found it to be easier than what Piper made it out to be.

I encourage anyone that reads this post to try and make this recipe. The flavors really do blend well together and it is fairly easy to make. This is a great recipe to make if you are expecting a few people over for company. The sauce cooks for about two hours after you sautee the first few ingredients. This gives you time to talk to your guests all while knowing that dinner is almost done. Maybe you are looking for a dish to impress your own book boyfriend. Give this one a try and let me know how you made out.

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Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 Stalks of Celery

• 2 Carrots

• 1 large onion

• 2oz pancetta chopped

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 3 tablespoons Olive Oil

• Salt and Pepper to taste

• 1 pound ground meat

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 cup red wine

• 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

• 2 Bay leaves

• 1-28oz can of peeled plum tomatoes pureed.

• 1 cup milk

Directions

Step 1: Chop the vegetables until they are small. You can use a food processor for this part. Chop the pancetta into small cubes.

Step 2: Warm butter and olive oil in a large skillet or sauce pan. Add the pancetta and cook until the pancetta has softened but is not crispy. Add the vegetables and cook until the vegetables until they are softened, about 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: Add the ground meat and break the meat up with a spoon until small pieces. Cook the meat until browned. Add the tomato paste and cook until the paste is no longer clumpy. Add seasonings and cup of wine. Continue to cook until the alcohol has cooked down.

Step 4: Once the wine has cooked down add the pureed tomato. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Add the milk, stir and cover the skillet with a lid. Cook for 2 hours stirring occasionally.

Step 5: When the sauce is almost done cook the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is done cooking reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water and add it to the sauce. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Put the pasta in a serving dish. Then add the sauce to the serving dish. Bolognese sauce is best served with spaghetti.