In a persuasive writing class, I once was taught that one first needs to establish his or her credentials.

So before I tell you how to prepare a money meal for the special someone in your life, here are my credentials:

A date has caught me trying to pawn takeout off as my own creation. I have been known to burn things like popcorn and macaroni and cheese. My favorite new sandwich is the straight peanut butter sandwich, mostly because I am too lazy to spread the jelly. And I didn’t know what a strainer was until the sixth grade.

Now if that doesn’t reassure you that you’ve come to the right place for culinary advice, I don’t know what will.

There is one feat in the kitchen, however, that I have pulled off to perfection. When you really want to impress a lady friend, go Italian.

I chose the simple route – spaghetti and meat sauce.

If you don’t know how to cook spaghetti, chances are you can’t read, so you’re not reading this. But if you’re wondering how I tell when my noodles are done, I do the standard throw-’em-at-the-wall-see-if-they-stick trick.

Next, it’s time for the sauce. I cook my meat on a George Foreman Grill, mostly because I’ll do anything a professional athlete tells me to. Cook the ground beef for about eight minutes and then stir into a pot of red sauce.

I would suggest purchasing your red sauce from the Baldwin City Market. The people are nice, and you would be supporting the Baldwin City economy. Plus, tomato sauce from Wal-Mart in Lawrence? Yeah, not my thing.

Finally, if you’re 21, get the two of you a nice bottle of red wine. Don’t be like Matt Hamilton and get the $6 bottle.

Follow this recipe that makes eight servings and I guarantee success. Note: The bay leaf is optional, depending on whether you want to maintain your man card. <br/>Go get 'em, Casanova.Go get 'em, Casanova.
Go get ’em, Casanova.

Spaghetti and meat sauce

Ingredients

•2 lb. ground beef<br/>• 1 medium onion, finely chopped• 1 medium onion, finely chopped<br/>• 1 green pepper, finely chopped• 1 green pepper, finely chopped<br/>• 2 (15 oz. each) cans tomato sauce• 2 (15 oz. each) cans tomato sauce<br/>•2 (12 oz. each) cans •2 (12 oz. each) cans <br/>tomato pastetomato paste<br/>• 2 (1 1/2 oz. each) Italian-style spaghetti sauce mix with mushrooms• 2 (1 1/2 oz. each) Italian-style spaghetti sauce mix with mushrooms<br/>• 3 cups water• 3 cups water<br/>•1 tbsp. sugar•1 tbsp. sugar<br/>•Parmesan cheese•Parmesan cheese<br/>•1 bay leaf, crumbled•1 bay leaf, crumbled<br/>• 16. oz Italian-style • 16. oz Italian-style <br/>spaghettispaghetti<br/>  
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 green pepper, finely chopped
• 2 (15 oz. each) cans tomato sauce
•2 (12 oz. each) cans
tomato paste
• 2 (1 1/2 oz. each) Italian-style spaghetti sauce mix with mushrooms
• 3 cups water
•1 tbsp. sugar
•Parmesan cheese
•1 bay leaf, crumbled
• 16. oz Italian-style
spaghetti
 

Instructions

Cook and stir meat, onion and pepper until meat is brown and onion is tender. Stir in remaining ingredients except spaghetti and Parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Cook spaghetti as directed on package and drain. Serve meat sauce over hot spaghetti.