Microwave Spaghetti

During the second year of our marriage, Greg and I lived in an apartment building.  One day the most delicious smell was filling the hallway; I had to discover who was cooking spaghetti sauce!  It was Shirley, an Italian gal, who would prepare the ingredients early in the morning and simmer the sauce until supper.  Since I was anxious to try Shirley's Spaghetti Sauce, she kindly shared the recipe with me.  I had a problem...I was a college student who didn't have a whole day to simmer the sauce.  So, after many tries, I came up with a microwave version of her recipe.  Hope you enjoy!

Microwave Spaghetti

1 cup diced onions
2 cloves garlic
1 lb. lean ground beef
28 oz. can whole tomatoes
12 oz. tomato paste (Contadina)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup water
spaghetti noodles

Place ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic in a 2 quart microwave safe dish.  Gently break up the ground beef.  Microwave for approximately 5 minutes or until the ground beef is browned.  Stir occasionally while cooking.  Drain juices.

Add whole tomatoes to the ground beef mixture and use a fork to cut the tomatoes into smaller pieces. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and cover.  Microwave for 15 minutes, stirring twice.  Remove from microwave and stir again.  Cover and let sit for 15 minutes.  Serve over spaghetti noodles.