Easiest Italian Dinner Ever! Just One Big Pot!

Well, I decided I'd share one of the easiest and inexpensive meals I've ever made and one I get requests for all the time around here.  Everyone seems to love it...and it's inexpensive to prepare and anyone can make it!  You don't need to be a cook.  It's quick, so perfect if you find yourself with unexpected company and want to put on a nice meal.  It's purely vegetarian, but you don't get that feeling when you're eating it.  It's just filling and delicious!  Reminds you of something you'd get to eat at a nice Italian restaurant!!!

All you're going to need is one large stock pot on the range top!  Easy clean up and no mess!  I like using fresh ingredients, whenever possible....especially the tomatoes and herbs...but you certainly can use canned tomatoes, as it's easy to keep a can of them on hand.  The same for the herbs...I like fresh, but dried herbs work well, too.  I use fresh garlic, but garlic powder will work, as well.

Let's get started!!!

INGREDIENTS

4 cups vegetable broth
12 ounces Fetuccini
28 ounces diced tomatoes
1 medium white onion
8 ounces chopped spinach (fresh or frozen)
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon Basil
1 tablespoon Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons olive oil

Begin by pouring the vegetable broth into your stock pot.  Break the Fetuccini in half, adding it to the pot.  Now, add your diced tomatoes to the mix.  You can thin slice the onion or dice it, whichever you prefer and add that to the pot.  Add the olive oil, Basil and Oregano to the mix.  I finely dice the garlic...or you can use garlic powder and add the seasonings to the pot.  DO NOT ADD THE SPINACH AT THIS TIME!

Now, you're good to go.  Make sure all the ingredients are immersed in the liquid and give it a quick stir. Cover the pot with a lid, put the heat on high and bring everything to a boil.

As soon as the ingredients are boiling, remove the cover and reduce the heat to medium.  Continue cooking for about 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.  You will know it's done, once most all the liquid has been absorbed.

Now, add the spinach to your mix and stir it in.  If you add the spinach sooner, it has a tendency to turn the entire dinner green, rather than more red in color.  By adding the spinach at this time, it cooks quickly and you have a nice red and green combination.  Wait about 2 minutes and remove the heat.  Let the spinach continue to cook from the heat in the pot for another 2 minutes.

You're finished with dinner and it's ready to serve!  When serving, I usually sprinkle the serving with dry Parmesan cheese.  Just a nice finishing touch to a hearty Italian style dinner.  I'll usually serve garlic toast or hot bread sticks with a dipping sauce made with olive oil...with dried Oregano and Basil.

This recipe will easily serve 4 to 6 people and I'm sure your guests will enjoy it as much as mine do!  If you're in a hurry and use canned diced tomatoes, you can have this dinner on the table in about half an hour, so it's great for a surprise guests.

Enjoy!!!

If you have any questions, you may always email me at: stan.kain@gmail.com