A constant in my life on the day’s I’m in work is to get to about 3.30pm and panic about what we’re going to have for tea when I get home, invariably it’s what I like to call ‘concoction’ i.e. what’s left in the fridge, unfortunately that doesn’t necessarily always end up a very balanced and nutritious meal.  So at the Hectic Mum we thought it would be a great idea to start uploading a ‘Recipe of the Week’ every week. The idea is to provide all you hectic mums out there with a quick, easy and most of all cheap recipe which you can whip up in an instant keeping everyone in the family happy.

 

Where we can we’re trying to use fresh ingredients and provide you and your kids with as many nutrients, vitamins and vegetables as possible (without them realising!) I’ve found that sneakily chopping up vegetables into very small sizes and disguising them in the sauce works a treat!

 

So without further ado here’s the first of many to come…good old’ Spag Bol!

 

spaghetti-bolognese

 

 

Spaghetti Bolognese

 

Serves 4

Preparation time: 10mins

Cooking time: 15mins

 

Ingredients

 

- 100g prosciutto

- 400g dried spaghetti

- Olive oil

- 400g lean beef mince

- 1 chopped onion

- 1 and a half tins of chopped tomatoes

- Sprinkle of Italian herbs

- Salt and pepper

- 2 finely chopped garlic cloves

- 2tsp of green pesto

- Handful of fresh basil

- shaved parmesan to sprinkle on the top at the end

 

Method

 

1. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil and then the prosciutto, cook for 1 minute and then add the onion and cook for 3 minutes more.

2. Cook the spaghetti following the packet directions and drain well.

3. Meanwhile make a well in the middle of the pan, add another splash of oil and then the mince meat and cook uncovered stirring with a wooden spoon for 3-4minutes, until the mince meat turns brown.

4. Add the rest of the ingredients (the tinned chopped tomatoes, Italian herbs, salt and pepper, garlic, green pesto and the basil) and simmer over a medium heat, stirring occasionally for 5mins. Remove from heat.

5. Divide the pasta between the bowls and spoon over the Bolognese sauce. Sprinkle the parmesan over the top.

 

Hectic Mum top tip: If you want to put some additional vegetables into the Bolognese try adding chopped up carrots or mushrooms