Spaghetti-Faux's

The children inherited my inexplicable love of Spaghetti-O's. They come by it honestly: for a while during my second pregnancy, Spaghetti-O's were all I could eat. So I ate two or three cans a day, and Molly helped. For some reason I prefer the ones with the Sliced Franks, but any old kind will do so long as they're actual Spaghetti-O's and not some sad organic attempt to mimic the flavor. Amy's, Annie's, they're total failures. Only Spaghetti-O's will do for me.

But realistically, there is no damn way that Spaghetti-O's can be a part of our regular pantry scene. No matter how many vitamins and minerals they try and fortify that shit with, it's still too gross to contemplate. So they have to remain a special occasion food, like for the third night in a row that Dug's out of town on business.

Then Trader Joe's started carrying o-shaped pasta (they have a name, even: Anelletti). And then I got an idea: what if I mixed just a dash of tomato soup and a little bit of freshly grated cheese with cooked anelletti? Would it be a healthier alternative to commercial O's? So I gave it a shot, and the kids sucked it down. Since then I've tried it with other soups (the various creamy blends that come in cartons), and it's been a hit every time. Today it was organic butternut squash and a little mozzarella, and what you see above is all that remains.

(I didn't eat it though. I only like real Spaghetti-O's, so I had leftovers from the other night.)

Comments

[Devon]

Mike loves pSaghetti O's also, and has shared his love of them with Grace. I really thought she rise above and hate them.. but no she chows them down just as fast as her Daddy. I cannot have more than one bite and I'm done.. they just aren't for me! They would be a food group around here if Mike had his way!

[Devon]

Um, that's supposed to say Spaghetti....

[Stefania/CityMama]

My sister has been trying to convince that my mom used to buy Spaghetti-Os. She's either straight up lying or I've blocked it completely out of my memory. I can't ever remember eating them as a kid, but as an adult? Look out!

Those look all good and healthy and stuff. And would probably be even better with sliced franks, I mean Vienna Sausage, in it.

[Grammy]

I just don't understand why both my girls love Spaghetti O's. I hate them. Maybe that is because we ate Chef Boyardee Pizza crap when I was a kid. I am surprised I even like Pizza after that.

[Kayris]

I also craved Spaghettios when pregnant, and then felt horribly guilty for exposing my babies to the crap that is Chef Boyardee. What's left in that bowl looks pretty good. I'll have to try it.

[Andy]

That's a great idea! I think I'm going to have to give that a try. Though, now I really want some O's - the real kind.