With a Korean-Polish background, I didn't grow up eating much Italian. I was raised in the Detroit-area and there was certainly an Italian community. Sure, we got takeout pizza and even sometimes mostaccioli, but it never was a prominent cuisine in our house. We mostly ate Korean food since my Mom did most of the cooking, and sometimes my Dad would whip up one of his signature meals, like his incredible chicken and cabbage combo which was killer good. He even, if I can remember correctly, made some pretty decent lasagna at some point, but the irony is they both made spaghetti. Now, it's not from scratch. The sauce is mostly from a jar, but all together it is simply delicious. And it tastes like home- a place I wish I could revisit with the people I've lost whom I long to see the most.

I cooked the sauce in a Green Earth frying pan by Ozeri, which utilizes GREBLON - an ultra-safe ceramic coating from Germany which is 100% PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene) and PFOA (PerFluoroOctanoic Acid) free. The pan delivers enhanced heat distribution and superior non-stick performance without ever releasing harmful fumes or toxins. Groovy, huh! My sauce literally tasted better from cooking with this pan! I really recommend it into your everyday cooking. Though from many reviews, it doesn't seem to be long lasting. You can get one on Amazon today!

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Mom & Dad’s Spaghetti

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

10 ounces button mushrooms, chopped

1 jar (1 lb. 8 oz.) Ragu® Sauce

1 bay leaf

salt & pepper, to taste

1 pound spaghetti, cooked and drained

Instructions:

Brown ground beef until fully cooked through. Drain grease.
Add in onion and green pepper, mixing in with the beef. Cook 2-3 minutes
Add garlic. Cook 1-2 minutes
Stir in Ragu® Sauce, including the 1/4 cup of water mixed in with the rest of the sauce from the bottle.
Place in bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then simmer cooking 20-30 minutes.
Add in mushrooms last. Keeps it’s texture without turning it to mush. That’s how I love my mushrooms!
Don’t forget the s&p! Mix in with spaghetti noodles.
Garnish with parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese (optional).

This is the epitome of comfort food. Quick, easy and simply scrumptious - it is perfect for a Friday night in at home. While writing this blog post I, unfortunately, had CNN on my TV, breaking news of the attacks in Paris and of course, I can not write this entry without acknowledging this tragedy. My heart literally aches, I am incredibly sad. When will the hate stop? When will the world realize love truly conquers all? My thoughts and prayers are with you, Paris. Stay strong and keep those heads held up high. Don't ever let anyone rob you of your Goodness. Love and Light to all.