Want a family friendly dinner idea? Tired of the same old-same old?
Pasta Bolognese is a simple and satisfying pasta dish that is sure to become a favorite!
I’ve been thinking about this challenge that our church has issued. The challenge begins next week and to be quite honest, I’m not sure I can do it. The challenge is this: to eat beans and rice for one week. A large percentage of the world’s population exists on this diet alone. What would that feel like to us? We are used to dessert after every meal, we have drive thru’s that cater to our every whim, we have organic, vegan, fat-free, diabetic, low cholesterol, calcium fortified, gluten-free foods at our disposal wherever we look. It used to be that we had to shop at a Whole Foods to get these foods, but now they are as common as whole wheat bread. Third world nations simply have grains and legumes. The idea is then, to take the money we saved from our weekly grocery bill and put it towards inner city projects. A noble cause.
I LIKE the idea of eating clean and simply for an entire week. But, here are my reasons why I don’t think I can execute the plan.
1. Our kids. Our kids love black beans. They love rice too! That is not the problem. The problem is there is no way they could eat them 7 nights in a row. I’d never get them to eat a bean (sans the jelly kind) again! They’d probably send my parents texts pleading for them to come rescue them from their dining despair. My mother would then lecture me on what mother’s are supposed to feed their children and will proceed to tell me that I should teach my family to eat more cabbage because it is the super food of the century! (I can’t make this stuff up!)
2. Variety. How many ways can I really serve beans and rice? Douse it hot sauce? That would be ok for me, but not my family. In a taco shell, in a quesadilla, in broth, in wonton cups, in a bowl, on a plate? I’m flummoxed already.
3. Gas and bloating. Moving on.
4. Then there’s the reality that we will miss out on an entire week of fabulously aromatic and flavorful dishes like this pasta bolognese! This is D-liscious! Seriously. I used Italian turkey sausage and pork in this sauce. I added skim milk to make it a little smoother and creamier but without adding a lot of fat . I loved the zesty tomato flavor and the bite sized carrots. See what I mean??? I’m weak, I know, but damn this is good stuff!
I will come up with another way to participate. Perhaps I’ll save money on baking supplies for a week? Nah, who am I kidding, I can’t do that either! Baking is sort of my livelihood after all!
I’ll just eat my pasta and pray that another idea hits me. Or, how about this, you make yourself some pasta bolognese, mull over my dilemma and tell me what I should do. How about that?
Pasta Jambalaya
Ingredients
Instructions
I’ll be sharing this recipe at these sites as well as too: Jam Hands, Back for Seconds,
AND
If you’ve enjoyed this post, I’d love a thumbs up! I’m in the running for the Top 10 Food Blogs!
14 Responses
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This looks and sounds delish. Red beans and rice does not! I do not like beans, but to think you had to eat it everyday…I tell my children all the time that they do not have any idea how fortunate they are! So many things we take for granted every day.
We’re on the same track, Tanya, only you’re a bit in the lead. Just Sunday, I made a pot of Bolognese for a couple of posts I’ve planned. Your sauce sounds delicious and I bet that dish of pasta you photographed was fantastic. How ever did you find the discipline to not eat it but to photograph it instead?
The Bolognese looks great! I love using the leftover sauce – slathered on toasted garlic bread – one of my weird things.
I did beans & rice for two weeks; it was part of a cleanse – I didn’t think I could do it, but it wasn’t that bad. Each day I would try a different theme: Asian ~ edamame stir-fry w/ brown rice; Italian ~ cannellini beans and rice with marina; Tex-Mex ~ black beans, fajita veggies over rice…etc. However, I didn’t have to convince anyone else to participate….so, yeah. Good luck
)
Thanks Kim! I never thought of all the beans I could use in international dishes! I still don’t think I could do it! Hats off to you!
I’m thrilled to know I actually had a similar idea to you! That’s a compliment!
Thank you Kim. No beans and rice do not sound fun! I tell my kids the same thing!
This pasta sounds so phenomenal! What a homey and comforting meal.
You know it was comfort food! Thanks Rachel!
Great recipe! Have you ever made bolognese with chicken liver added? It’s very good!
Why thank you Mimi! No I haven’t tried the liver, but will have to now!
My, that is a dilemma! I would be thinking about this pasta all week! I don’t have any ideas for you, but good luck, I’m sure you’ll figure it out!
Thanks anyway Rachel! Pasta is just too irresistible!
Wow this looks so good!
Thank you Kelley!