For an Italian-themed party, you can’t go wrong with a great spaghetti sauce over pasta. When I was a kid, I used to watch my mom make spaghetti sauce from scratch. Time consuming, but oh so good. Somewhere along the years she started using a shortcut, and its name is Prego. Now, before you stick your nose up in the air, allow me to elaborate on the doctoring that takes place. Sautee a couple of chopped onions in olive oil until soft; add 1/2 of a chopped green pepper and chopped or smashed garlic to the pan and sauté a while longer. Set aside in a bowl. Sautee about a pound of ground turkey (or ground beef for your hearty meat lovers) in the same pan until browned. When almost done, sprinkle rather generously with dried basil and Italian seasoning, and a bit more lightly with dried thyme. Of course, if you have fresh herbs, so much the better. Sprinkle celery salt lightly. Mix the sauce and meat together. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Add a large pinch of sugar for a hint of sweetness. Place your favorite cooked spaghetti (for me, it’s angel hair) in a shallow bowl–ceramic is always beautiful. Spread sauce over the pasta and top with a couple of sprigs of fresh basil. Provide fresh grated Parmesan on the side, garlic bread right out of the oven, and a huge bowl of green salad with choice of dressings. Buon appetito!
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