Daddy’s Delight
I’m not sure exactly where the name of this dish came from, but it was a weeknight staple in my house growing up. It really ought to be called Mommy’s Delight since it’s such a breeze to make, it’s full of veggies, and it’s so well loved by all. If I’m ever short on time or ingredients, Daddy’s Delight is a quick and pantry friendly way to get my kids to eat their entire dinner, vegetables, protein, and all. It should come as no surprise that it’s on our menu about once a week during the school year.
This recipe is my evolution on the original that my mom cooked up, but it’s very flexible. You can basically use whatever frozen or fresh vegetables you have on hand and whatever kind of pasta you like, including gluten free varieties. I’ve also made it with ground turkey, ground pork, and sweet italian sausage with great success. And for all you pandemic grocery shoppers out there who stocked up on a million boxes of pasta, frozen mixed veg, and ground beef, this recipe is perfect for using up that surplus.
Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef (or ground meat of your choice)
1 12oz. box of pasta (penne and fusilli are some of our favorites)
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green or red bell pepper, diced
1 TBS. olive oil
1 tsp. each kosher salt, thyme, basil, fennel seeds and oregano
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup
2 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
Method:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium flame. Cook the onions and bell peppers together until the onions are translucent. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, basil, fennel seed, red pepper, and garlic. Cook until the meat is fully browned. Add the tomatoes, water, and ketchup and stir well. Cover the pan and allow the sauce to simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Add the frozen mixed vegetables and cook for another 3-5 minutes or just until the vegetables are cooked through.
Toss the pasta in with the meat sauce and serve in big bowls for everybody’s delight.
