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How to make Dad’s Famous Pasta Bolognese.
Dad’s Famous Pasta Bolognese
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4-6 people
I’ve been a pasta lover my ENTIRE life. I just LOVE pasta. Frank will tell you that because he’s the one stuck eating all the pasta I make every week (LOL!).
This bolognese recipe is one my father would make for us as children and it still holds a special place in my heart.
I remember those days fondly. With the light drumbeat of rain whipping against the windows on dreary weekend evenings, my brother and I earnestly watched Dad carefully stir the meaty sauce while humming a symphonic melody in rhythm with the spoon.
With the sauce bubbling away, the normally incessant bickering between my brother and I came to a peaceful truce as we waited for the meat to soften and the sauce to thicken. When the aromas of garlic, onion, and tomato wafted through the house our collective spirits lifted with the anticipation of what was to come.
Once the sauce was ready and the pasta was cooked to mushy perfection, my Dad tip-toed the pot to the family dinner table for serving, where we were all waiting with fervent excitement—hungrily holding our bowls out to be filled.
Oh, it was BLISS.
The perfect bolognese for the perfect family dinner
The real beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. It’s so SIMPLE! You definitely don’t need to be a Michelin Star chef to perfect this recipe (LOL!). It’s the PERFECT bolognese to have on special occasions or for a casual mid-week dinner with the family.
How to make ‘Dad’s Famous Bolognese’
Like I said, the recipe I’m sharing with you is SO simple that you’ll be kicking yourself why you didn’t make bolognese like this all along! That’s why we don’t need to rush. You’ll enjoy the dish more if you understand the back story.
So, back to my father.
My father was a hard man. And he worked even harder. After long days toiling away at the railroad depot—hands BLISTERING, sweat pouring from the brow—he would come home and continue his unending quest by devoting himself to a pot of boiling pasta water and simmering sauce.
This bolognese truly was his elixir.
This was rarely the case but if it had been longer than 7 days since we last cooked the bolognese, Dad would get extremely agitated. Next thing we knew, the cheap calendar blu-tacked to the fridge was circled with red marker: “BOLOGNESE NIGHT”.
And so the dance would begin.
And now, how to make ‘Dad’s Famous Bolognese’ (for real this time).
I’m sensing a passive aggressive tone there.
What’s the rush?
People read my food blog for my stories just as much as my recipes. I often get feedback, usually from my mother, about how readers love my preludes because it’s like a rolling thunder of anticipation before the big reveal.
It’s almost like I’m seasoning the recipe to perfection with just a pinch of storytelling. In fact, I like to think of myself as more of a storyteller than a food blogger.
They say people eat with their eyes first, but I like to think people eat with their MINDS. And the only way to engage people like that is through powerful stories. Like this story about my Dad and his DELICIOUS bolognese that you just HAVE to try.
...Seriously, what’s the recipe?
Okay, wow.
Someone’s got a chip on their shoulder, huh? Obviously, there’s no appreciation for storytelling here.
Fine, let’s get to the MEAT (LOL!) of the recipe, if you must..
There are a few crucial elements to this dish that you need to nail if you want to enjoy the pasta bolognese to its fullest extent. And trust me, you DO!
First, choose high-quality pasta. Anything out of a packet will do the trick.
Second, a good minced meat (obviously, HAHA!). Use the leanest mix you can find, or don’t.
Third, throw in every single fresh vegetable that you have in the fridge. Then when there’s nothing fresh left, get the stuff that’s nearly gone bad but not bad enough. TRUST ME! (This is the secret ingredient).
What is the f*cking recipe??
Hey, there’s no need to be like that. There’s more to cooking than simply cooking. And there’s more to a recipe than just sharing directions. It’s theatre. Performance art. You have to set the scene, add some romance, develop the characters, and build tension.
You know, make the recipe SING.
If people wanted music they’d listen to the radio. They want to know how to cook your dad’s rancid bolognese. And honestly, I’m not sure it’s worth it at this point.
I’m going to pretend you never said that.
...Where was I?
You were describing how your dad uses expired vegetables in his *famous* ‘bolognese’. Can we even call this a bolognese at this point?
Since when did my subheads get so sassy?
Yeah, well, people came here for a recipe and so far they’ve only got a poor attempt at a Jane Austin novel.
A bit harsh, isn’t it?
Perhaps. How about I take it from here and give the people what they want?
Fine.
Recipe: Dad’s Famous Pasta Bolognese
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lbs beef mince
1 jar marinara sauce, or other flavored, processed tomato-based sauce, usually found at the back of the pantry
4 garlic cloves
1 small brown onion
A random selection of other vegetables of various freshness and flavor
1 packet pasta (preferably spaghetti or linguine)
Steps:
Enjoy this thought dumpling? Share it with a friend. If you didn’t, share it with an enemy.
Until next time,
*chef’s kiss*
Allan
Hahahahahahah. Nice twist with the “full” recipe! But I do feel like spag bol now. Even though it’s 8am.