Hello, I’m Kelly Senyei! Food isn’t just how I nourish my family — it’s how I bring them joy.
Chef and TV host Kelly Senyei grew up in a family where food was “absolutely at the core” of daily life, and now, with four kids of her own, she’s carrying on her mother Noni’s tradition of nightly family dinners. “It’s the only time of day where the phones go away, and it’s just our moment for everyone to check in, to gather, to talk,” she says. “The conversation makes you stay, but the meal brings you to the table.” One dish that never fails to draw everyone in: Noni’s fried spaghetti, a “legendary” concoction of Bolognese sauce and crispy, butter-fried noodles. “She is the reason I do what I do,” Senyei says of her mother. “I hope that my kids associate family dinners with comfort and amazing memories.”
Staying Two Steps Ahead in the Kitchen
Kelly Senyei is the first to admit that, even as a professional chef, cooking for a family of six has its challenges. That’s why organization and weekly Vons shopping trips are key. “I’m all about being two steps ahead,” she says, “whether that’s prepping the Bolognese for fried spaghetti, or setting up my school lunch-making station a night ahead of time.” The chef also leans on anything “air-fryer-friendly,” like chicken cutlets, and she’s big on freezing leftovers (in Senyei’s home, smoothies become popsicles and extra pancake batter gets popped into ice cube trays). As far as getting her kids to actually eat what she cooks, there’s a household rule: the “try bite.” “You have to have at least one bite of food, even if you say you hate it,” Senyei says. “I cannot tell you the number of times my kids have said ‘I’m not eating that’ and I’m like ‘try bite.’ And then they’re like, ‘actually, it’s delicious.’ Exactly. How do you think you learned you loved mac and cheese? You had a try bite.”
Classic Spaghetti Bolognese With Parmesan and Basil
if food could talk, what would it say about you?
“You consider family
dinner a can’t-miss event.”
Shopping List
- Carrots
- Celery
- Yellow onion
- Basil
- Garlic
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Ground beef
- Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper
- Black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Spaghetti pasta
Shop this list and more at Vons.com.
Fresh Insider
Tips
Vons’ team of Fresh Associates is always available to help you make the most of your shopping trip.
Pick up a roast chicken. Want to get dinner on the table in record time? A Vons roast chicken (made in-store daily) is about as fast and versatile as it gets, whether you plan to shred it over salad, use it in pot pie filling, or pair it with sheet pan vegetables.
Upgrade lunch with freshly-baked bread. If you want to take your kids’ school lunch sandwiches to the next level, Vons bakeries turn out fresh loaves of bread in-store every day.
Classic Spaghetti Bolognese With
Parmesan and Basil
- 1 medium carrot, diced 1 celery stick, diced
- ½ medium yellow onion, minced
- ½ small package fresh basil, sliced into ribbons
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
- ¾ pound ground beef
- ½ ounce Parmesan cheese, grated or shaved
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 ounces spaghetti pasta
Directions
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water, cover, and bring to a boil. Uncover, add salt and pasta, and stir for a few seconds. Cook until desired firmness, 8-10 minutes.
- Heat a sauté pan over medium heat.
- Coat bottom of pan with oil. Add onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and crushed red pepper. Stirring frequently, cook until softened, 5-6 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add beef. Breaking apart with a spoon, cook until browned and crumbly, 3-4 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, ½ of the basil (save the rest for garnishing), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
- Drain pasta, return to saucepan, and drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
- To serve, place pasta in a shallow bowl or plate and top with Bolognese sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and garnish with remaining basil. Enjoy!
More Meal Ideas
For more fresh foods to inspire your own culinary travels, visit Vons.com.
