Magic Pasta Food

KALE, TOMATO, AND LEMON MAGIC ONE-POT SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Fill and boil a kettle of water and get all your ingredients and equipment together. You need a large, shallow pan with a lid.
• Put the pasta into the pan. Quickly chop the tomatoes in half and throw them into the pan. Grate in the zest of both lemons and add the oil and salt. Add about 1 quart/1 liter of boiling water, put a lid on the pan, and bring back to a boil. Remove the lid and simmer on high heat for 6 minutes, using a pair of tongs to turn the pasta every 30 seconds or so as it cooks.
• Meanwhile, remove any tough stalks from the kale or spinach and coarsely tear the leaves. Once the pasta has had 6 minutes, add the kale and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes.
• Once almost all the water has evaporated, take the pan off the heat and tangle the pasta into four bowls. If you like, top with a little Parmesan.

MAGIC FRESH TOMATO SPAGHETTI, PASTA OR PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic, and cook until onions are slightly soft and golden, stirring occasionally.
• Pour in broth and wine, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, wash tomatoes. Cut off tops and any damaged parts. Add whole tomatoes to the pot as you go (reserve extra tomatoes to peel, dice and add later if you want a chunky sauce). Note: when I make this, I add however many tomatoes will fit in my 6-quart pot - you will adjust other ingredients later so the exact quantity doesn't matter.
• You may add extra uncooked veggies you wish to "hide" in the sauce now. Some ideas - peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, even a little spinach. Be aware that it may slightly alter the color of the sauce - it can make it a little more orangey - but the tomatoes and seasonings will completely mask the flavor as long as you don't go overboard and add too much.
• When all the tomatoes have been added and the broth is boiling, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about an hour, and then turn off heat.
• Ladle sauce into a blender or food processor until about 2/3 full - you will need to work in batches. It will be soupy and very hot, so be careful. Process until smooth (there will still be some seeds visible).
• Pass sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Use a spoon to scrape the sides of the strainer if it clogs, and press all the liquid out. Discard the seeds and pulp from the peels that are left in the strainer. Carefully return sauce to the pot, and place back on medium-high heat.
• Add tomato paste until sauce is of desired thickness. Add seasonings to taste. Add any additional ingredients you want - diced tomatoes, browned beef or chicken, mushrooms, etc.
• Return sauce to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for another 30-60 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. If sauce is too tangy, you can add a little sugar to balance it. It will be done when it tastes just right!

MAGIC PASTA

Steps:

• 1. Make the pasta according to the directions on the box.
• 2. Heat up the pasta sauce while the pasta is cooking.
• 3. Drain the pasta, but DON'T rinse it.
• 4. Put the pasta sauce in the bottom of a bowl.
• 5. Put the pasta on top of the sauce. If you have the proportions right there will be no sauce left when you get to the bottom of the bowl.