Dinner Tonight - Pasta Bolognese, Mixed Vegetables, Fresh Fruit, Olive Bread (30 min)

Tonight I served pasta bolognese with mixed vegetables, fresh fruit and warm olive bread. Everyone enjoyed it except the toddler, who is just learning to swim and exhausted himself in the pool today - he couldn't enjoy much of anything after 4pm. But he should enjoy sleeping tonight - hopefully I will too!

If you know how to boil water, you can prepare Pasta Bolognese. Here's how I do it for my family.

Shopping list for a family of four (possibly with leftovers for lunch):

• 1 lb package of lean organic ground beef - if it's frozen, add 10 minutes to prep time
• 1 small package frozen organic mixed vegetables
• dried pasta of your choice, for four people
• 1 small can organic tomato sauce
• 1 regular can organic whole tomatoes, pureed in the food processor
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded organic cheese (cheddar, parmesan, mozzarella, whatever you like)
• 1 slice organic onion, finely chopped
• dried organic spices: oregano, basil, garlic, salt, pepper
• organic extra virgin olive oil - yes, it exists - at Costco!
• loaf (or 4 rolls) all natural olive bread (mastering the bread maker is on my to-do list)
• fresh, in-season fruit
• organic butter

Directions:
1. Start the water to boil for the pasta.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
3. Cook the ground beef in a skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped onion. Sprinkle the meat with salt, pepper, garlic, oregano and basil as it is cooking (if the meat is frozen, you can defrost it in the skillet as it cooks - just add a bit of water and keep flipping it and scraping it with a stainless steel spatula until it's all cooked - add ten minutes to do that).
4. Once the water is boiling, wrap the bread in aluminum foil and place it in the oven to warm. Add the pasta to the water.
5. Put the frozen vegetables in a microwave safe dish (e.g., PYREX) with an inch of water. Cover with an eco-friendly wet paper towel. Microwave on high for two-three minutes or until done. Drain.
6. Add the tomato sauce and the pureed whole tomatoes to the meat. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Season again with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Reduce to low heat. (note the cast iron skillet)

7. When the pasta is done, drain it and set it aside. Remove the bread from the oven. Add a bit of organic butter to the bread (I usually melt it in the microwave, then drizzle on - you use less butter and don't wreck the bread).
8. Prepare the fruit. Pour drinks. Put the pasta on plates and add the sauce. Note the child's meal tray!


Done!