This evening I craved wholesome, familiar, family-style comfort food. The type of food that is both predictable yet nutritious, straightforward in its preparation but with punchy flavour. Spaghetti Bolognese ticked all of these boxes. 

I have made this recipe so often that there is no need for me to refer to my handwritten instructions. These are filed away in a favourite, dog-eared notebook of hurriedly-scrawled recipes, many splattered with cooking juices, sugar, spices and water marks. I try to keep a record of recipes I have made up from the top of my head and I also like to jot down hints and tips shared by other home cooks whom I admire. 

Every home cook, regardless of their level of kitchen experience, should have a handful of favourite, reliable sweet and savoury recipes. The type of dishes that can be whipped up without too much thought or fuss. Dishes that make the most of what’s in the fridge and pantry. Dishes that – very importantly – are guaranteed to be eaten by fellow family and friends and can be prepared while multi-tasking at a maximum level (tending to a toddler, answering work related calls, checking homework etc). 

The recipe I have developed over several years of trial and error is the one I posted on this food blog on May 13th for My Super Tasty Bolognese. My eldest daughter asked me this evening how I make my bolognese taste “so fantastically good”. It all comes down to quality ingredients, from the beef mince, to the significant amount and type of vegetables incorporated into the sauce. The vegetables act as a kind of multivitamin – certainly tastier than the pharmaceutical variety! 

The quantity for My Super Tasty Bolognese is vast, but it can be reduced if cooking for a smaller group, or even frozen in batches to be used as a quick stand-by meal. The vegetable enriched sauce is also superb as leftovers the next day – don’t throw out this precious sauce, instead try one of these combinations: 

* generously spoon the mixture between grainy bread with mozzarella in toasted sandwiches;

* mix through canned beans and layer with corn chips and sprinkled cheese as protein rich nachos; 

* roast thin slices of pumpkin, then layer this in individual ramekins with microwave steamed spinach and dollops of creamy ricotta for a vitamin plus lunch or dinner. 

* pile heaped tablespoons into little pie dishes or muffin pans, top with puff pastry, bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes and serve with a crisp salad. 

* delicious served over rice which has been steamed with a tablespoon of butter and a sprinkle of deep yellow turmeric spice – great for keeping the brain alert and making food look extra appealing. Add plain yoghurt to boost your daily calcium intake.

* an easy school lunch solution which can be warmed through in the morning and piled into Thermoses. Include a wholegrain roll wrapped and ready to mop up the sauce. 

So you see, there is so much more to bolognese than simply teaming it with spaghetti. It really is a versatile one-pot-wonder packed with protein and essential vitamins with nutritional benefits for everyone in the family.