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Our First Meal In Our New Home {Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe}

We finally moved. Finally. It took over a month longer than anticipated to renovate our new home, and at times it seemed like we’d be in limbo forever, without a kitchen, eating out every day, and squeezed into one little room. But we are finally here in our new family home, and we love it.

One of my family’s favorite meals is my spaghetti bolognese. It’s something both my husband and son love so I love making it for them, and it was a great choice for our first family meal in our new home. I made it in my new Le Creuset Simmer, Steam, Fry Set, which you can see here in Cassis.

le creuset french oven

The Le Creuset Simmer, Steam, Fry Set is a 5 1/2 quart cast iron wonder that allows me to make pretty much anything with the included stainless steel steamer basket and deep fry thermometer, including steam veggies (love!) and fry (we don’t fry much, but on the rare occasion we do, I can now easily do it). The 5 1/2 qt enameled cast iron round french oven will pretty much be on my stove top for daily use from now on. I love Le Creuset bakeware, so I am thrilled to have one of their high quality, beautiful cookware pieces in my kitchen. I’ve always wanted a complete cast iron cookware set, the type you pass on to future generations, and this french oven just started my collection.

And just in case you are interested in trying out my spaghetti and meat sauce recipe:

le creuset

Penelope’s Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe

Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup water or broth
1 cup organic diced tomatoes
1 cup tomato sauce
1 box spaghetti
salt and pepper

Instructions
1. In a large pot or french oven, add 2 tablespoons olive and brown the beef over a medium heat. Add in onion, peppers, chili powder, garlic and stir together. Cook for 10 minutes, occasionally adding water to keep hydrated.
2. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce into the french oven. Stir together and simmer for 30 minutes, then put on side.
3. Make spaghetti according to directions on box.
4. Season meat sauce with salt and pepper to taste and serve over spaghetti.

spaghetti meat sauce recipe

I was able to use the Le Creuset Simmer, Steam, Fry Set to make the entire meal by using the french oven to make the meat sauce, and then the pasta, and I used the steamer basket to drain the pasta. I made a salad as well (I love salads!) and we had a wonderful first evening together relaxing in our new home. We are looking forward to many more wonderful family dinners in the years to come. Stay tuned for more great recipes, and our renovation updates photos!

cute graphic




  • Congrats on the first meal in your new home!! So happy for you!! And I love my Le Creuset French oven!! Yours is beautiful!

  • Nice! I love spaghetti, too. 🙂

  • Looks delicious! &Congrats on finally moving! {BTW, I’m totally adding that pan/pot/whatever you’d call it to my wedding registry!}

  • a great first meal in your new home! Spaghetti is so comforting and your picture looks so yummy and perfect.

  • Jennifer The Quirky Momma

    Isn’t the first real meal in your new home the best? It makes it all real
    !

  • Jenn

    Lovely pot! Looks like a tasty meal too.

  • Spaghetti is so simple yet a staple comfort food in our house!

  • Awww what a lovely meal for the first meal in your beautiful new home – can’t wait to see update pictures of how it’s coming along and I’ve been wanting this pot – same color too! 🙂

  • Mellisa

    I love that pot!

  • Love Le Creuset and your spaghetti looks wonderful.

  • Christa

    This looks delicious and I love that pot. It sounds perfect for our needs!

  • Leilani

    Spaghetti and meat sauce is one of my favorite meals. Congrats on moving. We’ll be moving in two weeks. I honestly hate moving.

  • Congrats on the first meal in your new home!

  • Congratulations on your very first meal, and it looks delicious too!

  • One of my favorite things to cook is spaghetti too. I have been making my own homemade sauces.

  • Congrats!! What a great feeling. Comfort food seems very perfect!

  • That looks delicious!

  • Yay for first meals in a new home!! You got me in the mood to have that tonight!

  • LOVE Le Creuset — I have a few pieces but would definitely take more!

  • What a perfect dinner! That is one of our favorites too!

  • What an awesome dinner! Congrats on being in your new home! 🙂

  • Glad you’re all moved in!

  • congrats on the move!

  • Definitely a great meal to start out your new life in the new house!

  • What a gorgeous pot! Congrats on moving in to your new home. I can’t wait to see the reno photos.

  • I have one of these pots and it is my fave! It’s always on my stovetop and I love that I can use it for so many meals!

  • I only have a few pieces of Creuset, but love them.

  • what a great pot looks deilcous

  • Congrats on the new home.

  • This sounds delicious and I am so excited for you to be in your new house! What a beautiful French Oven – I just adore the color!

  • Maryann @ Matthew's Puzzle

    Oh man, I want one of those pots. I love enamel coated pots, they are great because they do not leak toxins and can go from stove top to oven.

  • Donna

    Spaghetti is my go to meal… who doesn’t love spaghetti? 🙂 Your sauce sounds almost like mine, too. I’m so happy for your Penelope, being in your new home! I can’t wait to see photos!

  • That looks super yummy!

  • I love that blue color. What a beautiful piece of cookware, and then of course, your meal looks so good too!

  • I have to admit, I don’t like bolognese, it’s too dry. We like a lot of sauce and a little noodles 🙂 But I’m swooning over your Le Creuset, it’s so pretty! Must weigh a ton though.

  • Mmm one of my favorites

  • Congrats on your move! Wow, it must have felt nice to cooking in your new kitchen and sit down to enjoy a nice, home-cooked meal. Looks yummy!

  • Tammy

    So excited for you that the renovations are finally done! I know what a long drawn out process this has been for your family from selling your first home to moving into this one. Now you have more space, and obviously a great kitchen to cook in too!

  • That looks really good. I have always wanted to try this but for some reason thought it to be much harder. Will definitely follow this recipe!!

  • Congrats on being in your home Penelope, how exciting. I still say your bolongnese sounds delish

  • I have a few casserole dishes from Le Creuset and LOVE them!