Weeknight Bolognese

Need a quick, easy and impressive weeknight dinner for guests?  Here it is!  A super easy bolognese sauce with penne pasta.  Whip up a caesar salad, heat up some garlic bread and you have a delicious dinner in about 30 minutes!

Weeknight Bolognese (adapted from Ina Garten)

2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 pound lean ground sirloin (I used 96% lean)
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 cups dry red wine, divided (you can also use beef broth, if you prefer, although the flavor will not be the same)
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste penne pasta)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.

While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Makes 6 servings (478 calories each serving) according to my calculator on loseit.com