I precook a week’s worth of meals on Sundays to save time during the week. It’s something I started a few years ago when I was working full time while going to school full time and working on a documentary. (Social life? What social life?!) I’d portion everything out in resealable plastic containers, then grab one as I dash out the door each morning.
This method’s a lifesaver for a girl who’s always on the run (and often, five minutes late), but after enjoying traditional turkey burgers, baked turkey parmesan burgers and even Southwestern salsa turkey burgers and STILL having leftovers, I was in dire need of a little ingredient mix-up. (Let’s face it: Buying in bulk saves money, but when you’re cooking for one, it can add up to a lot of the same ol’, same ol’.)
Time for a little creativity!
Cinnamon provides another dimension of flavor, but it’s not as sweet as you might think. It’s a fun twist on the traditional spaghetti recipes — a common ingredient in Greek meat sauce.
Utensils required: Microwave-safe bowl, pot, wooden spoon or ladle, knife
Ingredients:
– 1 cup whole-wheat pasta
– 1 jar of spaghetti sauce (For added kick, I used Hunt’s spicy spaghetti sauce.)
– 2 teaspoons cinnamon
– 2 turkey burgers
– 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese
Time commitment: 13-15 minutes
Steps (serves 2-3):
1. First, check out my recipe for turkey burgers, if yours aren’t made already.
2. Next, follow the directions on the back of the box to prepare the pasta. As it cooks, dice up the precooked turkey burgers. (If you’re cooking the turkey simultaneously, considering rolling them into turkey meatballs to spare you the dicing process.)
3. Once the pasta is almost done cooking, combine the cinnamon and spaghetti sauce into a microwaveable bowl. Heat it in the microwave for about 1 and a half minutes, then stir it, and cook for another 35-40 seconds. Test the sauce to make sure it’s thoroughly warmed. If not, stir and cook for 30-second intervals until it’s completed. (You can also use a stovetop, but this method is better if you’re crunched for time — you can just add some pasta to the sauce bowl, and have one less dish to clean.)
4. Drain the pasta once it’s done, and now, my friends, you reach a fork in the meal (couldn’t resist!):
If you’re making it ahead: Keep the pasta separate from the sauce so the noodles don’t get all soggy and start to disintegrate. I usually portion out the pasta into individual resealable plastic bags and sprinkle the cheese on top, then portion the pasta into Tupperware. That way, all I have to do is grab one of each as I head out the door, toss the pasta/cheese into the Tupperware, stir it around in the sauce and pop it in the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
If you’re enjoying it now: Divvy up the pasta, sprinkle shredded cheese on top, then pour on the meat sauce. The sauce will melt the cheese, making the dish all the more delightful.