I love to cook for my family, but occasionally it’s nice to be able to sit back and relax while someone else does the work. Mr. Fuji is a fabulous cook, having picked up a trick or two from his mom, who is also a fabulous cook.
There are certain things that I don’t cook anymore because Mr. Fuji just makes them better–like mashed potatoes. There is nothing wrong with my mashed potatoes. They are completely edible and taste great. However Mr. Fuji’s mashed potatoes are always creamier, fluffier, and more flavorful. He seriously has the mashed potato technique down to a science. So when it comes time to whip up mashed potatoes I step aside and let Mr. Fuji take over. Another one of my favorite things that he makes is a recipe his mom taught him before he left for college (probably worrying that he would starve to death). One of these days I’m going to get him on here as a guest writer so he can share that recipe with you–a recipe for slow cooker creamy ranch pork chops. Mmmmm, I think I gain 10 pounds just thinking about them!
The other night we got home after being gone all day and I realized that I had not thought at all about what we were going to eat for dinner. I was exhausted and suggested that we just do something quick and easy, like grilled cheese sandwiches. Mr. Fuji responded that he wouldn’t mind making dinner and asked if he could use the 1/2 pound of spicy Italian sausage in the fridge. I said, “Go for it!” and sat down on the couch and put my feet up.
That sexy mashed potato mashing man of mine proceeded to whip up one of our favorite non-recipe recipes for creamy tomato pasta.
This recipe came about when we were living in Japan and had been eating a lot of Indian food.
We had some jars of pasta sauce and I got to thinking about some of the Indian sauces that are tomato based with cream added and so we decided to apply that idea to pasta, et voila! We have since made this sauce numerous times when we are looking for something quick and yummy.
Well, Mr. Fuji had dinner ready in no time and we all ate heartily.
In fact Squirrel set a personal record for the amount of food consumed in one sitting, eating FOUR Squirrel-sized bowls of pasta without any prodding or encouragement from us. Thanks sweetheart for giving me the night off. Dinner was extra yummy, especially because it was prepared by my awesome mashed potato mashing man. I love you.
Fuji Family Non-Recipe for Creamy Tomato Pasta
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 lb. ground meat (we use anything from ground beef to spicy Italian sausage)
1 medium onion, chopped
1-2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce (our fave is Classico Tomato & Basil)
1 jar of your favorite Alfredo sauce (our fave is Classico Creamy Alfredo)
pasta of your choice (our faves are whole wheat Rotini and Gemelli), cooked
1. In a large skillet over medium heat saute the ground meat, onion, and red pepper in the olive oil until onions are soft and translucent and meat is cooked through.
2. Add the marinara sauce and alfredo sauce, and simmer over low heat for several minutes until the sauce is hot. Serve with pasta.
Coming Thursday: Forgotten Cookies
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a lot Mr. Fuji. Now I’m going to have to start making food more often than once a year.
That looks really good, I just might try that tonight! And I HAVE to see those pork chops, it sounds like something Dan would really love.
Looks great! I love simple dishes, sometimes the best thing is to whip something up with a quickness and have it be awesome.
My absolute favorite pasta dish is a tomato cream sauce/Italian sausage one. It’s a bit more work than this one, but it’s soooooo good. Heh, I wish my girlfriend cooked, but she doesn’t. At all. She tried to make boxed mac n cheese once… the less said about it the better. ;)
that honestly looks liek somethign i would have made up – which kills my chef hubby but he still ends up loving my creations in the end – will definitely give this a go in the coming week
I’m hoping Neal reads this one… couldja help a poor girl out and post more of Mr. Fuji helping out with dinner please? :)
oops I didn’t check, looks like he read it already! Wahoo!
yummy and mr fuji can come over to cook here anytime too :)
That’s funny – my hubby is the one who makes the best mashed taters in our house, too! (Apparently he adds a wee bit of Japanese mayo to them, but I don’t like to dwell on that – I just like the overall taste.)
YUM!! that looks fast yet delicious! nathan is an awesome cook…. glad you got a night off! p.s… that’s a pretty picture on the blog before this where you are showing off your belly. I can’t wait till baby Ella comes!!
Ooh, please post the pork chop recipe soon :-) The idea almost made me abandon my original dinner plans.
I had fun reading all the comments Fuj…! We as a Fuji collective def need that pork chop recipe and soon.
My hub mashes the best taters too.. I think it’s all his sexy muscles. I am not sure which I like more.. eating the taters or watching him mash them. rawr.
and… that WAS a cute belly shot earlier.. you are positively adorable preggers!
and…this recipe looks easy and tasty! I have never tried the creamy alfredo before so I’ll have to get some.
Keep those feet up Fuji!
ohmigosh how funny someone JUST mentioned to me about mixing the tomato + alfredo sauce together and how it’s really good! hahah. that is so great. great pictures! you are so lovely, congrats on the little one on the way! thanks for stopping by my blog! :)
Well, it seems that not only is Mr Fuji good looking and has great taste in women, but he’s also very handy in the kitchen! He’s a keeper!
Yum, I’m a sucker for a good tomato cream sauce!
It’s so wonderful that you have Mr. Fuji who can step in and give you a mini vacation. You’re a lucky girl! (but I’m sure he’s even luckier to have you =P)
Sorry Neal! :-)
Thanks to everyone’s prodding I convinced Mr. Fuji to get back into the kitchen to cook me up some of those pork chops! He’s seriously the best. But you’re right gaga, he is lucky to have me! :-)