Cooking Corner - Meaty Spaghetti

Written By: Ellen Kleven  |  Posted: Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Everyone loves a home cooked dinner, but sometimes standing at the stove or sink is the last place you want to be, especially during these beautiful but fleeting summer months. With so much to do outside (gardening, fishing, Little League, etc.) the frozen dinner aisle of the grocery store or the nearest fast food or takeout restaurant can become quite tempting. Before you reach for those chicken nuggets or fish sticks, consider making a quick and simple spaghetti dinner, one of Keith and Amanda Misner's favorites for busy nights.

Keith and Amanda are active people most of the time. Keith works in construction while Amanda cares for their two young children and keeps the home. Add to that a side business they run together and a love for people, not to mention their spontaneous natures, and it leaves little spare time! "Ever since we have been married, and even before, we're spur-of-the-moment people." While having their own business has forced some planning and organization of their time, they still love to be random.
Amanda grew up cooking fairly simply. She learned how to prepare many kinds of noodles as a nine or ten year old. Her preference was buttered noodles with parmesan cheese and said of them, "noodles were my favorite thing on the planet." The recipe Amanda shared reflects much of what she knew growing up, "Mom made lots of Italian [food]." Even now, many of her food related favorites tell on her love for Italian cuisine. Favorite restaurant? "I really, really like Olive Garden