MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Penne Pasta w/Meat Sauce
Categories: Beef, Pasta, Herbs, Vegetables
Yield: 4 servings

8 oz Penne pasta
Salt
2 tb Extra virgin olive oil
2 c Chopped onion
2 cl Garlic; chopped
1 ts Italian seasoning
ds Red pepper flakes
1/2 ts Fresh thyme
Salt & fresh ground pepper
1 lb Ground beef; 16% fat
3 Fresh basil leaves, chopped
+=OR=+
1/2 ts Dried basil
2 1/2 c Canned chunky tomato sauce
1 ts Sugar
1 tb Chopped fresh parsley

COOK THE PENNE PASTA: Heat to boiling a large pot with 4
quarts of water in it. Once the water is boiling, salt
it with 2 Tbsp of salt. Once the water returns to a boil
add the pasta to the pot.

Leave uncovered, let cook on high heat with a vigorous
boil. Put the timer on for 8-10 minutes, or whatever
your pasta package says is appropriate for al dente
(cooked but still a little firm). Drain.

SAUTE ONIONS, GARLIC, WITH SEASONINGS: Once you've
started to heat the water, start working on the sauce.
Heat olive oil in a very large skillet on medium heat.
Add the chopped onion, Italian seasoning and red pepper
flakes.

Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the
onions are softened. Add the garlic, fresh thyme, season
with salt and pepper. Cook for an additional minute,
until the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat and set
aside.

BROWN THE GROUND BEEF: Heat a large cast iron pan on
high heat. Salt the bottom of the pan generously. Once
the pan is hot, break up small chunks of ground beef and
add them to the pan, without stirring. (You may need to
work in batches; do not crowd the pan.) You want the
meat to get well browned.

If the pan is too hot and the meat is burning, not
browning, take the pan off the heat for a little, and
reduce the heat to medium high. On our coil electric
stove, it takes the high heat setting for the meat to
brown sufficiently, but your stove may be different.

Once the meat is browned on one side (a couple of
minutes), use a metal spatula to flip the meat over to
brown on the other side. At this point, assuming you are
using a cast iron pan, you can remove the pan from the
heat. The residual heat in the pan will finish cooking
the meat.

ADD BEEF AND TOMATO SAUCE TO ONIONS: Use a slotted spoon
to lift the meat from the cast iron pan and add it to
the pan with the seasoned onions.

Add tomato sauce. Use the edge of your metal spatula to
break up the bigger chunks of meat into smaller pieces.

Add basil. Add a teaspoon of sugar. Bring to a simmer on
low heat, let cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

ADJUST SEASONINGS AND ADD THE PASTA: Once the sauce has
simmered for 15 minutes, adjust seasonings. Add salt and
pepper to taste. Add a little more sugar if the sauce is
too acidic. Add more tomato sauce if the sauce is a
little dry. Stir in the cooked penne pasta. Sprinkle
with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

By: Elise Bauer

RECIPE FROM: https://www.simplyrecipes.com

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