# Help with meals with little "kitchen time" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320 "2009-02-17T21:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320/41 "2009-02-21T17:17:30Z")
Garlic spaghetti is another spin on Carbonara. I don’t remember the real recipe but it’s the brainchild of Crescent Dragonwagon. Just wing it one the amounts but remember this only for those who really love garlic. Start dried spaghetti boiling in salted hot water. While that cooks, put into a small bowl: a few tablespoons butter, a sprinkle of hot pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, a dash or two of dried tarragon. Crush or grate at least 3-4 cloves of garlic and a hefty amount of freshly grated parmesan cheese. (You can also toss in bacon bits if you have 'em; I usually don’t.) Moosh it around; lightly whisk one large egg then dump that in too. Moosh again until things are fairly . Drain the pasta and immediately dump either into a shallow serving bowl or back into the pot. Quickly stir the butter/egg/cheese stuff into the hot pasta until the sauce melts and coats everything. Serve immediately with more cheese to top. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320/42 "2009-02-21T18:02:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I just remembered one of my favorite quick dishes. I call it Mock Carbonara, as it doesn’t really resemble the real thing, and if you eat it often enough, people will mock you. > > Pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, whatever) > Bacon > Onion, bell pepper (both optional), minced > Butter > Grated Parmesan cheese > Salt & pepper > > Put the pasta on to cook. Meanwhile, brown up some bacon. Remove and crumble/cut up. If the veggies are desired, saute until tender in a bit of the bacon fat. Drain the pasta and dump in a bowl. Add a glob of butter and mix until the pasta is coated. Add the bacon and grated cheese (and veggies, if you must), and seasoning and mix thoroughly. Sit your fat ass down in fron of the TV and eat the whole bowl with a large spoon. This sounds like a dish that deserves it’s own name! I mean, bacon, pasta and cheese. What’s not to love, right? Cut down even more on kitchen time with this dish: Buy bacon when it’s on sale. Line two jelly roll pans with aluminum foil and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put an entire package of bacon, in a single layer, on pans. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes until desired done-ness (is that a word?). Drain on paper towels, store in fridge in zip-top baggies. Remove as many slices as necessary to crumble on salads, make dishes like this mock carbonara, put on sandwiches, warm in microwave to eat with your morning eggs, or just nom as you look through the fridge for something else. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320/43 "2009-02-21T18:04:33Z")
One I learned in the Boy Scouts: Boil pasta in pan A. In Pan B, saute some garlic and onions (onions optional, start them first), (Also optional: some sort of salted pork product. E.g. diced ham, bacon, cappacola, etc.) add in some diced tomatoes. (you _could_ use canned, but I’ve never.) add in basil (fresh if you’ve got it), oregano, parsely and thyme. Pasta should be about done; add a small spoonful of pasta water to Pan B. Drain pasta and coat with sauce. Add Parmesan and/or mozzarella. Consume. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320/44 "2009-02-21T18:47:22Z")
Thawed salmon filet. Microwave or pan saute till done. Season to taste as desired: lemon, butter, garlic, whatever. Optional: marinate in soy sauce/teriyaki sauce before cooking. 1 hour gets good results. Overnight is better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-meals-with-little-kitchen-time/486320.md?page=2)