T's Awesome Spicy Chicken Spaghetti

My friends and family can never get enough of this dish, and have repeatedly tried to coax the secret recipe out of me. Well, today's got to be someone's lucky day, because I am finally sharing the "how-to" of preparing this dish that is versatile enough to go from your everyday dinner table, to short-notice potluck, to a sit down dinner. Buon appetito!

Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients: 1 lb. ground chicken (can also use turkey or beef)
1/2 yellow onion
3 vine-ripe tomatoes (or 6-10 cherry or grape tomatoes)
1 cup crimini mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 jar of (your choice) spaghetti sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
1 box regular sized spaghetti noodle (angel hair and spaghettini don't seem to be as big a hit)
Grated Parmesan/Romano to garnish

Preparation: Finely dice onions and set aside. Rinse tomatoes and mushrooms, dry, and chop each coarsely (larger tomatoes can be cut into 4 segments, smaller ones can be split open and de-seeded. Chop mushrooms in 3 lengthwise segments).

Boil water in a large pot for the noodles.

In a separate pot or skillet, brown your ground chicken for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Drain excess fat. Salt to taste, and add onions first, saute for a minute, then add the mushrooms. Finally, when the liquid from the mushrooms has nearly dried up, add the tomatoes, Saute until the tomatoes begin to separate. Add crushed pepper flakes and oregano, mix and lower heat. Add spaghetti sauce to the meat mixture.

At this time, the water for the noodles should have come to a boil. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to the water and put the noodles in to cook according to their package directions.

Add the thyme and 2 bay leaves to the sauce, making sure to stir occasionally. Finally, add the can of tomato paste along with the brown sugar. Fill the empty tomato paste can with water and add this as well to the sauce. Simmer your sauce until it thickens, about 30 more minutes.

Remove the spaghetti noodles from heat; drain and cool. Plate the noodles and top with sauce. Garnish with parmesan/oregano (and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired).

Learn more about this author, Phynne Bellecieux.
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