Tag: Italian

  • Authentic (ish) spaghetti carbonara

    Authentic (ish) spaghetti carbonara

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    One of the things I told myself when I started this blog was that I would not do tons and tons of pasta recipes. See, my favorite food is and always has been: pasta. I have to force myself to not eat pasta every day of the week (and twice on Sunday), and part of the reason I wanted to start cataloguing my recipes was so that I could use this as a resource for myself, when trying to answer the age old question of what’s for dinner.

    I spend lots of time working, like most folks, and don’t have too much time to prepare elaborate weeknight meals (though that certainly doesn’t always stop me, even if I end up eating at 9:30pm or sometimes later…!).

    A quick pasta dish is often my saving grace after a long day in the office, and spaghetti carbonara fits the bill perfectly: it’s made from mostly pantry items (or things that I always have on hand) and comes together in the time it takes to cook the pasta (yes, really).

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Carbonara was totally unknown to me until I moved to France, where it is on every menu, from restaurants to home kitchens. I was never a big fan because it is usually kinda thick and creamy, and not the light sauces that I tend to go for.

    Then, my spaghetti life changed: I had this dish in Italy. You guyyyyyysss. It was nothing like the clumpy mess of cream and lardons that they’re serving up elsewhere, this was a delicate balance of parmesaneggs and black pepper. You might be thinking, what about the guanciale (pork, similar to lardons or bacon) the recipe also calls for? I stopped eating pork ages ago, so no bacon, ham or traditional carbonara for me. I’ve always been able to manage a ‘vegetarian’ version in the past, which as you can imagine has always lacked that smoky salty bacon flavor.

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Then I thought, if carbonara can be this good without meat, imagine if I kicked it up a bit with some turkey bacon and made it myself? After a few attempts to get the recipe right, I was nothing short of amazed at how good this came out. Despite not having as much fat as the traditional recipe from the pork, the sauce came out perfectly balanced, savory and creamy, and the turkey bacon and parmesan added that extra flavor to complete this so-simple-its-complex recipe.

    I’m definitely not one to say that recipes should be followed to the letter for them to be ‘authentic’, as experimentation and mistakes often lead to some of my favorite kitchen creations. But some things are just so good as they were meant to be, that you have to try it the ‘real way’ at least once before you start changing things up. For spaghetti carbonara, this means: no chicken, no mushrooms and certainly no cream. Give it a try, then customize as you like 🙂

    For anyone looking to try a slightly slimmed down take on the classic spaghetti carbonara, or anyone like me that doesn’t eat pork, please give this recipe a try – you will not be disappointed!

    And don’t give up if you don’t get it right the first time you try it. Recipes with only a few ingredients are often the most difficult to get right, because every ingredient counts. The main difficulty I encountered when making this recipe was preventing the eggs from scrambling – once you get past that hurdle, you’ll be a pro at whipping this up in 15 minutes tops.

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

    As always, my recipes are for two people but this can easily be doubled and is lovely reheated for lunch the next day 😉

    Ingredients:

    1. 150 grams of spaghetti
    2. About 6-8 slices of turkey bacon, chopped into rough pieces (or turkey lardons if you can find them!)
    3. 1 large egg
    4. 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
    5. Fresh ground black pepper
    6. Sea salt, for seasoning
    7. 75 grams of parmesan cheese – freshly grated

    I’m including lots of detailed steps for any readers that haven’t ever made this before, but it really boils down to: make the pasta, fry up the turkey bacon, mix together the egg/parmesan/black pepper, add cooked pasta and turkey bacon to egg mixture and serve. Easy peasy.

    Instructions:

    1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a generous amount of salt (2-3 tablespoons) and cook the pasta until al dente. My trick for perfectly cooked pasta is to cook 1-2 minutes less than the time indicated on the package. For spaghetti, this is usually 6-7 minutes.
    2. Heat a small pan on medium heat, add the butter and turkey bacon and cook for 5 minutes, or until cooked through and slightly crispy. Set aside.
    3. In a large metal bowl, whisk together the egg and grated parmesan, and grate in some fresh ground black pepper.
    4. While the pasta is boiling, using a pot holder, carefully place the metal bowl over the pot for about 45 seconds to gently warm up the bottom of the bowl, and the egg & parmesan mixture.
    5. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of the pasta water.
    6. Add the cooked pasta to the turkey bacon pan (without heat) and let sit for 2-3 minutes to slightly cool.
    7. Add the pasta & turkey bacon to the egg mixture bowl and toss quickly with tongs to make sure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
    8. For a creamier sauce, add in a tablespoon at a time of the reserved pasta water, continuing to toss the pasta. I usually end up adding about 3 tablespoons.
    9. Use a ladle and fork to serve if you want to get the ‘nest’ like look, and top with some grated parmesan, sea salt and black pepper.

    Warming the egg mixture slightly, and letting the pasta cool a bit will help prevent the egg from scrambling. Adding the pasta water will help to cook the egg in the sauce, and will give the pasta a luxuriously creamy texture.

    I hope you enjoy this simple pasta dish as much as I do! If you make this recipe, I’d love to see – snap a pic and tag @seefoodplay on Instagram to share your take on this classic Italian fave.

    Authentic ish spaghetti carbonara | seefoodplay.com

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  • New Year’s Eve 2016: Milan & Bergamo (Northern Italy)

    New Year’s Eve 2016: Milan & Bergamo (Northern Italy)

    **Updated March 2018**


    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    This post has been in my ‘drafts’ folder for so long, mainly because there’s just so much to say that it was tough to finally sit down and put together this post. Simply put, I already knew that I love Italy, but I now love Italy in the Winter! ❄ ☃ Milan is a great cold weather winter travel destination: less tourists, great food, super cosy. So, if you are wondering if we loved our New Year’s trip to Northern Italy, then the answer is a resounding yes. If you want to know why, then keep reading!

    Jonathan and I were looking to get away for a weekend during the holidays, to a destination that wouldn’t be too far away or expensive, since we were in money-saving-mode (for another personal project which I’ll write about very soon).

    As usual I used all of my cheap flight search tips and tricks and came up with a short list of destinations, primarily based on available flight times and price. I’m always down for a trip to Italy and hadn’t been to Milan in ages, so…Milan with Vueling Airlines was the winner. Off we went for four nights in Northern Italy (31 December – 4 January) for NYE 2016!

    Day 1: December 31st (Milan, Italy)

    We arrived pretty early (around 10am), so came straight into the City and dropped off our bags at our hotel. The hotel wasn’t central, but it was right across from the Buonarroti metro station, which is just a few stops away from lots of major tourist spots. The hotel was a bit old and somewhat dated, but for the convenient location, great price (£143 for two nights), and friendly staff, it was more than decent. The room was comfy, there was a cute reading area, and we got great sleep while we were there.

    Hotel Tiziano
    Via Tiziano, 6, 20145 Milano, Italy
    Phone: +39 02 469 9035

    Despite the early wake-up, I was in tourist-mode and ready to make the most of this trip (as opposed to our usually  very laid-back travel style…), so we headed right towards the Duomo area. Pretty much right away, we realized that we were very under-dressed and were freezing our asses off…! It was hovering around 1 degree celsius, and we were coooold. We aren’t winter travels pros, and it was clear that we could have been more prepared. Walking around for more than 15 minutes straight was out of the question, so we ended up inside the covered Gallery shopping area, right across from the Cathedral. If you want to hit up some of the luxury shops in Milan, then this is definitely the place to be! All of the major brands are there, and it’s quite beautiful, especially during the holidays with all of the Christmas decorations.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Even though it was freezing and we couldn’t take full advantage of just wandering around, the Christmas decorations and decorated Christmas tree in the shopping area were gorgeous. There were of course tons of tourists, since it was during the holidays but really the whole atmosphere was festive and felt like the holidays — everything we were hoping for. We stopped into this very chic spot for a sneaky hot chocolate and brekkie for me. Let’s just say: one of us complained the whole time about how expensive it was, and one of us reveled in the absolute luxury of it all. I’ll let you guess which one was me and which one was Jonathan 😉 Savini’s is absolutely lush and if you want to splash out on a a hot chocolate or cappuccino while touring the city during the colder months, then this place makes it almost worth the cold.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Restaurant Savini
    Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
    Via Ugo Foscolo, 5
    20121 Milano – Italy

    At this point, I was on the brink of frostbite, so we headed back towards the hotel and did some pre-game shopping of prosecco and other aperitivo supplies. We listened to music, had a hotel-room picnic, then headed back out into the cold to go see what Milan had to offer for NYE. I’m not going to beat around the bush: the evening was whack. lame. not fun. eventless. Now I am sure that there are fun parties in clubs around town, but we weren’t really looking for that vibe. We wanted to be out in the major spots, reveling with the locals, and drinking prosecco in the streets. What we ended up doing was going to the over-crowded square in front of the Duomo, watching small groups set off dangerously-close fireworks, followed by the most anti-climactic NYE countdown I’ve ever seen. All while we were serenaded by the loud Italian rock band that was on the nearby stage. We tried to have a good time, but it just wasn’t happening so we hopped on a bus and went back to the hotel. Jonathan and I both agreed that Milan for NYE was a let-down. Luckily, things really got better after Day 1!

    Day 2: January 1st (Milan, Italy)

    We weren’t exactly out partying all night, so we woke up pretty early and went out exploring. Lots of things were closed due to the holiday, so we headed to the Navigli neighborhood which was vibrant and lively. We walked around before getting too cold and hungry before finally settling on an amazing little restaurant which was just about to close… glad we got a table because it was delicious!

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Once we warmed up, we wandered around the canal area, enjoyed more Christmas decorations and the overall festive vibe. It was an interesting area to hang out it, and the sun was finally shining a bit so we didn’t feel as frozen. Well, we were less frozen.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Once we’d wandered around long enough, we headed back to our ‘hood and were ready for dinner. It was late and New Year’s Day, so we of course struggled to find anything open. After googling/tripadvisoring/calling a bunch of places only to get busy signals or voicemails, we decided to venture out and just look for something open. I should point out that the Buonarroti neighborhood is fairly residential, so I think we really got lucky finding the Donati restaurant. They were open (it was after 10pm at this point) and the food was sooo good. The service was excellent, and the place was just perfect and cozy for a cold winter night, especially since our hotel was right down the street. The food of course was fantastic: Jonathan had seafood pasta, and I (of course) had spaghetti pomodoro.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Ristorante Donati Milano
    Viale Cassiodoro, 4, Milano MI, Italy
    Phone: +39 02 4331 9047

    Practical information:

    Getting around Milan is very easy using the Metro & bus system, taxis and Ubers. We took the metro from the Milan Malpensa airport into town very easily, and were able to navigate around with just a downloaded metro map on my phone. We are big fans of Uber and taxis, but we were trying to keep travel costs as low as possible, so we took full advantage of Milan’s metro system. You can view a map of the Milan metro system here. The tickets can be purchased from machines with “ATM” written on them, and sometimes you can pay by debit/credit card, but most of the time you’ll need to use cash. Here is a great guide explaining in detail how the Milan Metro works: http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/how-to-use-the-milan-metro.html

    Day 3: January 2nd (Bergamo, Italy)

    Up early (yet again), this time to pick up the rental car (to my delight: a red Fiat 500L), we then headed about 40 minutes outside of Milan to our next destination: Bergamo. We chose the Devero Hotel mainly because it wasn’t too far from everything we wanted to visit, and it was listed at a great price (£138 for two nights). Turns out, we absolutely loved this place! It seemed to cater mostly to business travels, which is probably why the place was so empty (over the holidays), and we definitely made the most of our time there. This place was perfect as a base for exploring the area: free parking, a lush cocktail bar, a fantastic restaurant, nice and cozy, and there was even a spa. Needless to say, we loved it! The only downside is that it was very hard to find if you’re using a GPS; the address of the hotel takes you to another place (nearby, but 5 or so minutes away).

    Hotel Devero (Largo Kennedy 1, 20040 Cavenago di Brianza, Italy)

    Slightly better address:

    Via dei Chiosi, 5
    20873 Cavenago di Brianza MB, Italy
    GPS coordinates: 45.580321, 9.416177

    Once we checked-in to the hotel, we headed straight back out for lunch to the adorable Bergamo area. This was by far the highlight of the trip for me: the village in the winter was spectacular and even magical, and we got lucky because it snowed! It was the perfect atmosphere for a wonderful lunch at the amazing La Tana restaurant. You know how sometimes it’s cold and snowy, and all you want is a nice, hearty meal in the North of Italy in a cozy spot with a fireplace? Well the next time that urge comes over you, drop everything and go here! This place is perfection. We had several courses but the highlights were these handmade ravioli and the bresaola (pictured below).

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    La Tana  
    Via S. Lorenzo, 25, Bergamo BG, Italy
    Phone: +39 035 213137

    After lunch we braved the cold and took in the sights and it was well worth it! The downside is that it was really too cold to truly enjoy because we didn’t have warm enough coats and boots, so we only stayed for a few hours before going back to the car. The scenery really was magical though and I would come back (with warmer clothes) in winter in a heartbeat.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    The village was lovely, there weren’t many tourists, and we were able to just wander around and take it all in. We came by car, but it should be noted that the touristy bit is a protected zone and only authorized vehicles can go inside. If you miss the signs indicating Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL), then you might be in for an upleasant surprise in the form of a fine! No need to worry though – there’s parking all along the perimeter.

    After a long and cold day out touristing in Bergamo, we spent the evening at the hotel bar and restaurant: margaritas, margaritas (the pizza), then dinner at the Hotel’s restaurant: Dodici 24. All amazing. We ended up eating in the hotel’s restaurant a few times, mostly because it was convenient but also because it was really (really) good. We were pretty chill at this point and just wanted good food in a comfy setting.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Day 4: January 3rd (Bergamo and Varenna, Italy)

    After breakfast we made our way to towards Italy’s Lake District and I just have to say: this was such a highlight of the trip!! The drive was gorgeous and again, a great time to visit the region as there were very few tourists and the weather made the area beautiful and everything seemed a bit mysterious. I had doubts about going during this time of the year but I can’t recommend it enough. Even though it rained, snowed, was dark early and even cloudy, it didn’t make me love it any less.

    We stopped in Varenna to look out over Lake Como and the views were absolutely stunning. There was just so much charm in each little village we stopped in. You know how you go to a place and you want to go mega tourist and take photos of literally everything?? That’s how I felt here and the 300 photos I took are proof…!

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    Day 5: January 4th (Milan, Italy)

    We had a 9am flight back to Paris, so our 5th and last day in Milan was just returning the rental car and heading to the airport. The stress of getting gas before returning our rental car was no joke though, so if you find yourself in our position, take heed: the station doesn’t open until 7am (despite having automatic pumps) and you can only pay with an Italian debit card or cash. If you need gas early, best to fill up the night before!

    Even the flight home left us feeling totally charmed: gorgeous winter morning with stunning views over the mountains.

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

    All in all, this was definitely one of the most memorable long weekends I’ve ever had. Maybe because it lived up to everything I hoped it would, despite the mediocre NYE in Milan. Northern Italy is gorgeous in the winter and if you rent a car and just go exploring, you certainly won’t be disappointed. Granted, you won’t find the vibrant colors of summer, but you’ll see a different side of the usually-touristy Italy. So bundle up and take advantage of those off-season airfare and hotel deals – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

    New Years Eve 2016: Northern Italy - Milan & Bergamo: | seefoodplay.com

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  • Marinara sauce, revisited

    Marinara sauce, revisited

    Updated February 2019

    Click here to jump to the recipe

    The ultimate easy healthy 30 minute marinara sauce

     

    This easy tomato marinara sauce is not only a breeze to whip up on a weeknight, but it’s also as healthy as it gets!

    You might not have noticed, but I’m obsessed with tomato sauce. Well, tomatoes in general, but I lovvvee me some red lycopene-filled tomatoes! I could totally have made this a niche blog called SeeFoodTomato, because pretty much all of my favorite recipes start out exactly the same way: with a red sauce.

    That’s right – even my very first blog entry was for a marinara sauce! That was not by accident – it deserved the number one post status because tomato sauce is my number one (okay, Jonathan is technically but you know what I mean ;-)). She’s my go-to when I don’t feel like making an elaborate meal. You can turn a simple can of tomatoes into the base for a pizza, a fantastic plate of spaghetti, or a gooey cheesy baked pasta dish. Or you can dip bread in it. Or you can turn it into a bloody mary. Depending on your mood (and the type of day you’ve had), tomato sauce has your back. So yes, I do force myself to step out of my comfort zone on this blog and make recipes that are not just a bunch of tomato sauce based variations, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t share them, from time to time 🙂

    The first version of my marinara sauce that I posted is the simple, no-fuss easy ready-in-minutes version. It’s delicious, versatile, and above all, super fast but still rich and delicious. Sometimes, though, you want a more structured sauce, with slightly more complex layers of flavour. So if you’ve only got about 15 minutes, then go for my original marinara sauce recipe. If you have a few more ingredients and around an hour to let this sauce simmer, then please give this one a try. This sauce is solid, you guys, and would be great over a bowl of spaghetti, or even as the sauce in a lasagna or even… on a piece of bread. Yes, this stuff is legit so give it a try! This is the ultimate 30-minute marinara sauce, and the only red sauce recipe that you’ll ever need.

    marinara sauce revisited | seefoodplay.com

    30-minute marinara sauce| seefoodplay.com

    marinara sauce revisited | seefoodplay.com

     

    Recipe

    Easy, healthy marinara sauce

    • 2 8 oz cans crushed or whole tomatoes
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped)
    • 2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
    • 1 small shallot (minced)
    • 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese (grated)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 bay leaf
    1. Add the shallot, garlic, and olive oil to a non-stick pot and sauté until cooked through (about 3-4 minutes) over medium heat.
    2. Next add in the spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried basil & oregano) & cherry tomatoes, stir for 1-2 minutes.
    3. Add the whole tomatoes, using their juice to deglaze the pot.
    4. Add all remaining ingredients, then bring the pot to a boil
    5. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for around 45 minutes to an hour.
    6. Remove the bay leaf*
    7. Using a wooden spoon or hand mixer, break down the tomatoes to have a smooth and uniform sauce (unless you like it chunky, which is great, too!).
    8. Allow to simmer on low for another 30 minutes (or as long as you can) before serving.

     

    *If you’ve never forgotten to take the bay leaf out of a soup or sauce, then lucky you, because it’s awful and can totally ruin your meal if you chop it up into your dish!

  • Jonathan’s spaghetti bolognese

    Jonathan’s spaghetti bolognese


    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Sometimes I have to take a step and just be thankful for the lovely little French family I somehow got lucky enough to marry into.

    We have been relocating from Paris to London for what feels like an eternity (okay, it’s only been about 5 weeks of back-and-forths, and there are much worse problems to deal with…). Last week, we had to return to Paris for yet another formality: my French nationality ceremony. Since I also need to be in Paris for work next week, here we are: stuck in town for almost a week! Tough life, I know – forced to hang out in Paris for a week…

    Jonathan’s parents living only an hour south of Paris, we decided to pay them a visit. Imagine the nicest, cutest and most welcoming parents-in-law, and you have my in-laws! Any trip to see them usually involves eating some amazing food, good times and some even better wine. As I sit here looking through the window at the Loing river, sipping a glass of champagne waiting for Jonathan to finish making lunch, I can’t help but just feel one thing: happy.

    Jonathan and Jonathan Senior (i.e., Jean-Luc) have been arguing over the merits of garlic powder versus fresh garlic, and whether Spaghetti n5 or n7 is best for a perfect bolognaise. As I’m distracted by these twos’ kitchen musings, the scent of simmering onions in olive oil perfumes the house. It’s also a nice little revenge as J.L. is changing the recipe around, changing the pots around, adding things like white wine and other spices, and generally acting just like Jonathan when I’m cooking.

    So while these two go at it, I’ve decided to type up J’s recipe — it’s super easy, and is one of our family favorites. When I’m working late and starving, this is usually what I request that Hubby have waiting for me when I get home.

    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Jonathan's spaghetti bolognese | seefoodplay.com

    Ingredients:

    • 2 8- oz cans of whole or crushed tomatoes
    • 2 large cloves of garlic, minced/finely chopped
    • ½ cup diced onion
    • ½ cup of parmesean cheese
    • 1 teaspoon of oregano
    • 4 teaspoons olive oil
    • 500 grams of fresh ground beef
    • 200 grams of n7 spaghetti
    • 2 whole mini cayenne peppers
    • ½ cup chopped fresh basil (optional for garnish)

     

    Instructions:

    1. Place 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a non-stick pan with the diced onion over a medium heat, until onions are cooked through and slightly browned.
    2. Next, turn the heat up high and add the ground beef until browned. Turn the heat back down to medium and add the minced garlic, stirring frequently.
    3. Add the remaining spices (including the cayenne peppers, whole) and oil, stirring for about a minute.
    4. Next, add in the canned tomatoes and let simmer for about 10 minutes before adding in the fresh parmesean.
    5. While your sauce is simmering, bring a bit pot of water to boil and cook your noodles until they’re al dente (for me, this is usually 1 minute less than the indicated cooking time).
    6. Drain your pasta, return to the pot and toss in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil to make sure the noodles are evenly coated.
    7. Plate up your noodles, then top with the bolognese sauce, fresh basil and a dash of olive oil & fresh ground black pepper.
  • 30-minute marinara sauce

    30-minute marinara sauce

    30-minute marinara sauce| seefoodplay.com
    I had a serious think about which recipe to start this blog out with (because that kind of sets the tone, right?) and then it became so clear that it had to be something that I love making and that I’ve always wanted to share.

    One of the first things that I truly learned to master in the kitchen was definitely marinara sauce. You know how some people talk about having made a recipe hundreds of times and you’re like “who makes something that many times…”? Then I thought about it a bit, and I guess I do have a few recipes that I love so much (and have for so long) that I must have made them at least a few hundred times over the years. This tomato sauce is definitely one of those recipes.

    When I first started getting interested in cooking, I naturally started with all things Italian because that was (and still is…) my favorite food. With a few simple ingredients that we almost always have on hand, you can make a restaurant-worthy dish in a matter of minutes. I used to think that making pasta sauce involved sautéing some veggies, browning some beef and adding in a jar of store-bought sauce. As the years went on, the more I realized that the best tomato sauce is one with the fewest ingredients. Simplicity is key with this recipe, because the end result is so rich and tomato-ey – adding anything else is just really unnecessary. After a long busy day, sometimes all you need is a nice bowl of pasta tossed in some olive oil, salt + pepper, with a few spoonfuls of this marinara sauce.

    This is my definite go-to recipe when I don’t have time to cook a more elaborate meal, or just when I need a big helping of comfort food. This is good on pasta, pizza or even just as a dip for an oven-toasted piece of baguette!

    With just a few ingredients, this sauce is a no-brainer fool-proof recipe that anyone can master. Bon appetit !

    What was the first thing you truly got just right in the kitchen? If you have recipes and photos, please share!

     

    30-minute marinara sauce| seefoodplay.com

    30-minute marinara sauce| seefoodplay.com

    30-minute marinara sauce| seefoodplay.com

     

    30-minute marinara sauce
    Recipe Type: Sauce
    Cuisine: Italian
    Author: seefoodplay.com
    Prep time:
    Cook time:
    Total time:
    Serves: 2 cups
    seefoodplay.com: 30-minute marinara sauce
    Ingredients
    • 2 (8 oz) cans whole tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    Instructions
    1. Add the can of whole tomatoes to a small saucepan
    2. Heat for 2-3 minutes, then add all remaining ingredients.
    3. Using a wooden spoon or hand mixer to break down whole tomatoes to have a smooth and uniform sauce (unless you like it chunky, which is great, too!)
    4. Allow to simmer on low for 30 minutes.
    Notes
    You can cook for 25 minutes, but I almost always let mine simmer a bit longer!