Whole Wheat Penne Pasta w/ Meat Sauce

Recipe from: Fantastical Sharing of Recipes 

(be sure to check her blog out, she has great recipes!!)

Ingredients: 

- 1 (13.25 oz) box whole wheat penne pasta

 (pictured is whole grain, but we've done both!)

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 2 cloves garlic, chopped

- olive oil

- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

- red pepper flakes

- dried thme

- 1 lb. ground beef

- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

- 28 oz. chunky tomato sauce 

the first time we made this, we used Muir Glen, and I definitely recommend that! ;)

- 1 teaspoon Sugar

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: 
1. Remove cloves from garlic.

2. Chop onions and cloves of garlic.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. (For the pasta)

4. While waiting for water to boil, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. 

5. Add chopped onion and Italian seasoning. (You can add the chopped onion and then the seasoning, we just did them at one time because it was easier)

6. Add a dash of red pepper flakes. 

7. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, until onions are soft. 

8. Add the garlic, dash of thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.

9. Cook for about 1 minute.

10. Remove onions and place in a bowl. 

11. In the same skillet, cook the ground beef, crumbling as it browns. (Drain if needed)

12. Once beef is no longer pink, add cooked onions.

13. Add tomato sauce, sugar, and basil.

14. Simmer on low heat uncovered for about 15 minutes.

15. By this time, your pot of water should be boiling, add 1 Tablespoon of salt, and bring back to a boil.

16. Add pasta into pot, and cook. (Follow instructions on your box, ours took about 9 minutes) 

17. Drain the pasta.

18. Add pasta to tomato sauce mixture, and mix it all together. (Or you can serve the pasta and scoop sauce onto it, whatever you prefer!)

19. And you're done.. Yay! :) 

Oh, and those rolls in the back? I LOVE them! :p Here's the kind I use: