Hotdog pasta

Hotdog pasta with carrots and green peppers

Swimming lessons, Brownies, running training, spelling homework, maths homework, reading homework...even for the most organised person after school life becomes a massive rush and the temptation to opt for a ready meal is easy. On Tuesdays my Daughter goes swimming and once home she is starving and needing food immediately. Thankfully one of her favourite foods is pasta which fulfils the brief for something quick, easy and filling.

This recipe is made up of store cupboard items I always have in and the contents of my fridge. Swap the vegetables for whatever you have or prefer. I know Nigella Lawson would never use green peppers but I needed a red pepper and when I went to buy one they only had mixed packs of three peppers. Anyway, I do actually like green peppers but it was starting to look a little aged so its time was up! I like to add it towards the end of the cooking so it still retains some crunch. If you have a broccoli stalk lurking in your fridge chop it finely and add it to this recipe.

I am entering this for several challenges this month. Firstly Family Foodies run by Vanesther at Bangers & Mash and Louisa at Eat Your Veg. This month's theme is Fab Fast Food. On a similar theme is the monthly challenge of Speedy Suppers at Feeding Boys with Katie and Sarah at Dinner with Crayons. With the extra vegetables and the option to add more this is going to Extra Veg hosted by Michelle at Utterly Scrummy Food for Families and Helen at Fuss Free Flavours. Michelle is also hosting Pasta Please this month on behalf of Jac at Tinned Tomatoes. The theme this month is Tomatoes. With its inexpensive store cupboard and fridge raid ingredients this is for Credit Crunch Munch run by Camilla at Fab Food 4 All and Helen at Fuss Free Flavours. Finally for using up ingredients, especially the green pepper, this is for No Waste Food Challenge run by Elizabeth at Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary and hosted this month by Chris at Cooking Around the World.

Serves 4

Equipment: 2 saucepans, 1 oven proof dish.

Ingredients

10½ oz (300g) Pasta

1 tbsp (15ml) Oil

1 Onion, chopped

1 Garlic clove, crushed

2 Carrots, chopped

1 400g Tin chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp (15ml) Tomato purée

1 tsp (5ml) Henderson's Relish or Worcestershire Sauce

1 400g Tin hotdogs, chopped

1 Green pepper, chopped

Grated cheese for topping

Method

1. Start cooking the pasta as per the packet instructions.

2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and then gently cook the onions until they start to soften.

3. Add the crushed garlic and stir into the onions.

4. Put the carrots, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée and Worcestershire Sauce in with the onions and garlic. Stir well. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.

5. Let the tomato mix cook for a few minutes before adding the hotdogs and green pepper.

6. While the hotdogs and green pepper are heating through drain the pasta and arrange in an oven proof dish.

7. Pour the tomato mixture onto the pasta and stir well so it is all combined.

8.Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.

9. If you want you can melt it underneath the grill otherwise serve straight away.

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