Welcome To My World: Melissa's Spaghetti w/ Parmesan Zucchini

Alrighty, I'm at it again. I mean, I've cooked since we've last "spoken," but it always takes a little more effort and conscience thought to take pictures from start to finish. But, I'm back! This time I bring you "my" spaghetti. Yum!!

Monkey and I are frugal folks. We were once in a really tight spot where we were not only living paycheck to paycheck, but we were down to dollars and cents each day. It was rough. What we learned early on was that the eating out had to stop, and the eating in had to begin. But even though we were eating in, I found that in the beginning I was having to cook different meals every night...which when you are living dollars to the day (budget wise), even this wasn't working for us. So, I learned to buckle down even further.

There is only two of us in the house (minus a feline), and this meal always lasts us an entire work week (5 days). We got used to this way of eating, but I realize it's not for everyone. If this is "too much" food, feel free to scale down on whatever you wish.

"Melissa's Spaghetti"

The Ingredients

Step One (1) - Chop peppers into tiny pieces.

Teeny tiny pieces.

Step Two (2) - Slice mushrooms - even more.

(I like thinly sliced mushrooms)

Step Three (3)

I love my onion chopper!!

Step Four (4) - Heat pot with Olive Oil and Garlic

I use garlic oil and garlic cubes from Trader Joe's

Step Five (5) - Sauté onions, garlic and oil

Inhale aroma. Smile deeply.

Step Six (6) - Add turkey meat and seasonings (salt, garlic pepper, "Mrs. Dash", Italian seasoning and a few flakes of chili flakes.)

Add so much seasonings you can barely see meat. ;)

Step Seven (7) - Once meat is cooked through, add chopped bell peppers.

Colorful!

Step Eight (8) - Stir together, add sauce. (I like to use one "cheesy" sauce + one marinara type sauce.) Simmer on stove on lowest setting. (No picture)

Step Nine (9) - While the sauce simmers, Sauté mushrooms. Get pan and heat oil.

Fancy pan.

Step Ten (10) - Add mushrooms.

Mushroom-y!

Step Eleven (11) - Once the mushrooms start to get really watery, add butter. (I use garlic and herb butter from Trader Joe's.)

Mmmmmm....garlic herb butter.....

Step Twelve (12) - Let cook until water evaporates on its own. Here, add salt and pepper.

Patience is a virtue here and reward of deliciousness is guaranteed.

Step Thirteen (13) - Like this! Now, add my secret ingredient: 1 tsp. sugar. (shhhhhh!!)

Yummy!!

Step Fourteen (14) - Place sautéed mushrooms in sauce, stir, simmer.

The perfect sauce! Proof at the end.

Step Fifteen (15) - Cook noodles, simmer sauce, drink wine!

The perfect tri-fecta!!

Parmesan Zucchini

The Ingredients.

Directions: (1) Clean zucchini. (2) Slice in half length-wise. (3) Drizzle olive oil on top. (4) Season with salt and pepper. (5) Lay parmesan cheese on top. (6) Set to broil on low for 15 minutes. (7) Set to broil on high for 5-10 minutes to toast cheese.