Spaghetti with Hotdogs

A childhood favourite and probably one of the first recipes I made on my own!
While watching an episode of the Big Band Theory I was shocked to hear that it's Sheldon Cooper's favourite meal too,  he mentioned wanting spaghetti with little slices of hotdogs in it  ^_^

This is such a tasty recipe for all ages but kids love it!





As always we do things from scratch around here (but don't let that discourage you because it is as easy as 1-2-3, or opening a jar of premade sauce!)

- 1 pack hotdogs (one large frankfurter per person or two per person of the smaller hotdogs) 

- 2 tbsp plain oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 jar passata (italian strained tomato puree)  

(OR use a can of whole tomato, strain from liquid and puree until it's a smooth tomatoy sauce) 

- Salt & Pepper to taste

- 1 tbsp sugar (I use coconut sugar to keep it healthy)

- 2 cloves garlic, just crushed

-1 slice of green bell pepper (optional, it adds a nice flavour if simmered in the pasta sauce and removed later)

Chop your hotdogs into rings, I used shopsys all beef. Place saucepan on heat with oil, sautee hotdog rings on both sides until golden. 

Remove and set aside. 

Now in the same saucepan over medium high heat add olive oil, crushed garlic and let it sautee until fragrant a few seconds (don't let the garlic burn!). Add in your passata (it's an italian pureed tomato that comes in a tall glass jar)  Sautee on medium heat in the oil until it smells good, this is to get the sugars caramelizing in the tomato and remove that "raw" flavour.  

Cover at this stage with a lid because it will splatter all over your kitchen.  It takes about 3 minutes.

Season sauce with salt and pepper, add sugar and piece of green bell pepper (optional) 

Now cover and simmer on low until your pasta water is boiled and you've boiled your pasta too.  

Spaghetti (cook enough according to person's and directions)

Strain and keep some of the pasta water, add the pasta back into the pot with the 1/3-1/2 cup pasta water and add your sauce + hotdogs    Let it heat for about 30 seconds on the same heat you were boiling the pasta then cover, turn heat off and let it stand until it meddles (about 3 minutes - Can straighten up the kitchen at this point and get the plates out)

Now serve and enjoy! It doesn't need any cheese or anything, perfect as is!