In the Kitchen with Grace!

Hello hello! Grace here.

I hope this finds you all safe, happy & well?

I thought I’d take a leaf out of our Dave’s book this Wellbeing-Wednesday and share one of my favourite recipes with you! Of course it’s my Mama’s recipe. It’s pretty standard I suppose, but it’s better than any other version I’ve tried! By a LONG shot. Spaghetti Bolognese!! Barbara & Grace Gray Stylie!

Wanna eat like Barb? Well here goes!

When I went to University, my Mum started a cute little recipe book for me…

Recognize that doodling? She’s been doing it for awhile!

And after German Potato Salad (I can share that one too, if you like!) was her infamous Spag bol which I wanted to know how to make at Uni. I’ve tried other recipes online and never like them as much in comparison, so here it is!

INGREDIENTS

– Carrots (as many as you like!)
– 2-3 Large Onions
– Minced Beef (1lb for 3-4 people)
– Spaghetti
– 1 Can of Chopped Tomatoes
– Pasta Sauce (something tomatoey of your choosing… like tomato & basil)
– Lardons/Pancetta/Bacon (whichever you can find)
– 1 Boullion Cube
– Salt & Pepper
– Butter
– Minced Garlic
– Seasoning Salt

STEP 1:
Chop onions & brown them in butter, using a deep & large pan.

STEP 2:
Simultaneously & separately boil chopped carrots for about 5-10 minutes, until softer (this isn’t necessary but it means you don’t have to wait for them to soften for ages)

STEP 3:
Add minced meat to the browned onions until also brown (break the meat up, so as to make sure you get aaaaall of it cooked through)

STEP 4:
Drain & add softened carrots to minced beef and onions. Mix.

STEP 5:
Add tin of chopped tomatoes & add your pasta sauce. Mix.

STEP 6:
Cook lardons/pancetta/bacon in a separate pan, pour out oil/grease and add to your recipe too!

STEP 7:
Add your Bouillon stock cube (I break mine up into 4 pieces so that it mixes in equally)

STEP 8:
Leave on low heat and add salt & pepper to taste. Take your time making your spaghetti… it’s impossible to overcook your Bolognese sauce! In fact, if you can leave it on low heat to soak in itself for 30 minutes, even better! Stir occasionally.

STEP 9:
Serve atop spaghetti (or your favourite type of pasta) and grate a little (or a lot) cheddar cheese on your meal (very British!)

And voila! Eat Barbara’s spag bol!

Here’s an example of a time where MUCH more cheddar cheese was enjoyed… and that’s okay too!

Would you like bolognese with your cheese?

Another cool addition is the garlic bread/toast that my Mark makes and adds to the meal! (Pictured above)

Simply butter your choice of bread (we used sourdough this time) evenly. Spread some minced garlic on the bread also, and sprinkle with some seasoning salt. Now pop this in the oven on 350 for about 3 minutes… SIMPLE!

Eat like Barb 😉

Give it a go! I’d LOVE to know what you think!
Oooof I’ve made myself hungry!

Lotsa love, Grace xo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.

17 thoughts on “In the Kitchen with Grace!

  • 29th July 2020 at 9:28 am
    Permalink

    Thank you for sharing. Sounds yummy but unfortunately being a veggie the recipe wouldn’t work for me in it’s current form but I could substitute with quorn mince. Never tried Cheddar cheese on top. Love Garlic bread yum, yum.Would love to know what’s in the potato salad (again we can try and substitute with veggie options if possible as I’m assuming it may contain sausage ). Hope you are both keeping safe and well.

    Reply
    • 29th July 2020 at 4:00 pm
      Permalink

      Would love to know the potato salad recipe – enjoy both yours and Mums posts Grace

      Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 9:48 am
    Permalink

    Well, that guaranteed you didn’t starve!! What a lovely memento to have. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’m GF but could give the mince a go and the sourdough garlic bread! I could live with that. Lol. Would love the recipe for the German potato salad. That will bring back some memories but I’ll pass on the Hot dogs! Lol. Take care and stay safe. Hxx

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 1:40 pm
    Permalink

    We were going to have Lasagne tomorrow but I think we will try your Spag Bol instead. My hubby makes garlic bread to die for. Large bloomer loaf cut thick, fresh garlic and parsley in Lurpack unsalted butter spread over and topped with strong grated cheddar. It’s almost a meal in itself.
    My mouth is already watering.
    Stay safe 🍒

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 1:43 pm
    Permalink

    Shame I am vegan but some tweaking of the recipe would make it work. Clever and so thoughtful your Mum. I am sure you have since added some recipes. Keep well and keep safe xx

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 1:46 pm
    Permalink

    Cannot wait to try it!! I need the that potato recipe please!!

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 1:50 pm
    Permalink

    Sounds delicious Grace so thank you for sharing. Wouldn’t expect anything less from your mum than a little handmade recipe book😀 . I wouldn’t mind the German potato salad recipe if you don’t mind thanks!

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 2:17 pm
    Permalink

    Yummy, a splash of red wine is my extra ingredient but similar in all other respects. Stay safe, Debbie x

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 3:35 pm
    Permalink

    Sounds absolutely fabulous will give it a try and the garlic bread thank you xx

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 4:06 pm
    Permalink

    I’ll give it a go with Quorn. Never tried adding a jar of sauce as well as tomatoes. It’s great to have inspiration after weeks of the home version of Ready Steady Cook! Good idea to have a book to collect favourite recipes. Looking forward to the potato salad.

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 4:31 pm
    Permalink

    Hungry now! My recipe is similar but haven’t yet added carrots, have thought about it but not got round to it, I don’t always add bacon just depends. Love a bit of garlic bread with it though. Been doing lasagne more recently so am due a spag Bol. We’ve got sea bass tonight, not done it myself before. I’m not fishy person but hubby is so I’m letting him have his choice ! I’ve tried it once so know it’s not too strong ! Potato salad recipe would be great. X

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 5:50 pm
    Permalink

    Sounds delicious… and I’m very happy to hear I’m not the only one who adds bacon and carrots to the mix, though I grate the latter and they go straight in with the tomatoes. A severe sodium intolerance means I always use Worcestershire sauce instead of bouillon, but it’s whatever works for you xoxo

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 6:51 pm
    Permalink

    Yummy I grate loads of cheddar over mine as well, delicious as it melts into the sauce, I like tomato puree to make it really tomatoey

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 8:44 pm
    Permalink

    Never would have thought to put cheddar cheese on top of bolognese sauce. Looks fab. I love a good cheddar. My local grocery store has been carrying several from the UK, and we are having fun trying them all.

    The recipe sounds great. I would probably cook the onions with the grease from the bacon, as bacon in the US is much fattier than bacon in the UK. Definitely keep the bolognese simmering away as long as you can. It just keeps getting better.

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 9:36 pm
    Permalink

    Sounds great. I usually grate my carrots (and courgettes and sometimes other veg lying around) into the mince. Never added jars of sauce -I tend to avoid them because I like to make my own – but would add basil or use a can of tomatoes with herbs. I’ll have to give the recipe a go very soon. Will be interested in potato salad too -but not with hot dogs!! Not a sausage fan, though sometimes have Quorn Cumberland or chicken sausages in a toad in the hole.
    Love the book your mum gave you and I’m sure it’s invaluable even now.

    Reply
  • 29th July 2020 at 11:44 pm
    Permalink

    How your blog has brought back memories of the recipe book I made for my daughter and gave her when she left home, even added her favorites from her nanna and grandma.

    I add celery and some red wine to mine, cook for 3 to 4 hours minimum in a slow cooker, tastes even better the next day. Always serve with grated Cheddar and garlic bread.
    Would love the potato salad recipe to.

    Reply
  • 30th July 2020 at 5:47 am
    Permalink

    Very similar to my version but like a few others grate my carrots and use a veg knorr stock cube. I let mine cook for as long as possible.

    Potato salad- probably make that similar to mum having an Austrian mum I was brought up on Wiener Schnitzel Kartoffel or Kraut Salat and Apfel Strudel. Gulasch was another favourite.

    I love mums work if any kind – she has a lovely style and she is loved by so many- the whole Clarity Team are just wonderful including you of course Grace. The little personal touches mean a lot in these weird times.

    Stay safe and I hope you get to see mum soon.

    Regards Sonia

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Hilda Smith Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *