I enjoy trips to the grocery store. Though I am susceptible to impulse buying and sometimes I might spend a little too much during a visit – it was on sale and you gotta spend money to save money! – it is generally an overall fun and relaxing experience.

That said.

Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, simply the thought of driving to the grocery store bears such an unattractive weightiness that it is handy to keep enough staple items in the pantry to invent a satisfying meal when the fridge is sparse.

Having fresh herbs around doesn’t hurt either.

This is less of a recipe and more of a method, as the veggies and the type of pasta can be substituted based on preference. In a fun and interactive way, two adults can easily craft restaurant-style spaghetti and add their own spin to each pan. This same technique can be applied in a large skillet to serve a whole family!

1 Jar Marinara Sauce
1 Green Bell Pepper, Sliced
2 Shallots, Thinly Sliced
Green Onions, Sliced
3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
½ lb Thin Spaghetti
Fresh Spinach
Ricotta Cheese (Be sure to see the homemade recipe!)
Favorite Fresh Herbs, Chopped – Oregano, Basil, Parsley
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
Bearded Man Husband added sliced grilled chicken to his, so feel free to add any desired meat or additional veggies!

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and a dash of salt before adding the pasta
Cook the pasta by following the instructions on the package til the noodles are just Al Dente
Drain in a large colander and rinse in the sink with cool water to stop the cooking process

Start by sautéing the peppers in olive oil til they start to get a little golden on the edges

Add the shallots, garlic and green onion and allow to cook for a minute

Toss in a handful of fresh spinach

Season with salt and pepper
With the pan on medium heat, pour in some of the jarred sauce and add any other seasoning you might want, such as red pepper flakes or fresh herbs (reserve some of the fresh herbs to top with later)

Allow to simmer for a couple of minutes
Toss the pasta in with the sauce til each noodle is appropriately coated, adding more sauce if necessary

At this point, Bearded Husband Man Person added a spoonful of ricotta to the pan so it made the sauce super creamy! Follow in his footsteps if you dare.

Transfer to your favorite pasta plate or bowl

Arrange globs of ricotta cheese and finish the whole thing with fresh cracked pepper and a few of the reserved fresh herbs for topping.

Don’t forget something refreshing to sip on while you are cooking! The Carolina Strawberry from Foothills Brewing is a delightful cream ale that pops with a bright strawberry flavor.

I added fresh strawberries to the glass. It’s not girly. It’s delicious.