I wanted to start out with a recipe that is so simple, ANYONE can do it. I know I have some friends that don't like to cook or aren't very good at cooking, but even they can make this and not screw it up! This will be one best decisions you will ever make. Step away from the sauce isle, put that jar of "spaghetti sauce" down, and don't you ever pick it up again. If you still use the tomato sauce that is in a jar that you got from the grocery store, shame on you! The sauce I'm about to share with you will change your tomato sauce life. This is a semi-homemade tomato sauce recipe that you can use with anything from spaghetti to eggplant parmesan (one moment...eggplant parmesan, yumm. Sorry that was distracting), to anything that calls for tomato sauce. Semi-homemade meaning I did not use 20 fresh grown tomatoes, parsley, and basil that I grew in the back yard garden. These are simple ingredients that you can get from the grocery store BESIDES that jar of tomato sauce (ICK), and make your own little homemade tomato sauce.
Start out by gathering everything you need:
Two cans of diced tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, one can of tomato paste, one onion, one clove of garlic, parsley, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper, sugar (that's the pink cup)
Next, chop that onion up real nice. You can use the whole onion or just a half, depending your feelings for onions. For me, we had a worldwind romance today, so I used the whole one.
Now pour some of the olive oil into your saucepan and let it heat up, not too hot because you don't want to burn your onions. Be nice to the onions, they haven't done anything to you and are only here to help flavor the sauce.
Next chop up your garlic, but don't put it in at the same time as you put in the onions. The garlic doesn't take as long to cook and it might burn. Salt and pepper them, and cook the onions until they become translucent. When they start getting close to being cooked, you have permission to add the garlic.
*If cooking spaghetti, now would be the time to add your meat and brown it with the onions*
For the tomatoes, start with the two cans of diced tomatoes. If you like your sauce thin and without so many tomato chunks, run them through a food processor, which is what I do. I don't prefer big chunky tomatoes.
Next comes the two cans of tomato sauce.
Pour slow, it likes to splash. As evidence by my white shirt I was wearing, which now looks like a kindergartner after lunch time.
Add the tomato paste and 1/2 cup of water (You can use the tomato sauce can and fill it with water and that is just the right amont.) Stir everything together.
Next comes the seasonings. Parsley and basil. Always better freshly chopped but not everyone keeps a fresh supply, so you can use the store bought kind. About a handful for each.
Now prepare yourself, for the most important ingredient of them all: SUGAR. Yes, sugar. The sugar helps reduce the acid of the tomatoes and if you leave it out you will be mad and think I am a terrible cook. I don't want you to think that after just the first recipe so please don't forget the sugar!
Now bring everything up to boil, then put on low and let simmer. The longer it simmers, the better it is, but if you are in a hurry, at least 15 minutes.
I made spaghetti tonight, so that is what I used the sauce for and this is the finished product:
PLEASE don't ever use that silly ole jar of "Spaghetti sauce" again! You now have no excuse because I just showed you how to do it! Enjoy!
Recipe for those who collect:
Semi-Homemade Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons basil
2 tablespoons sugar
Olive oil
1/2 cup of water
1 Onion
1 clove of garlic
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Chop one whole, or half onion. Pour just enough olive oil to spread around to cover the bottom of the saucepan. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and cook until translucent. Add garlic. For thinner sauce, run 2 cans of diced tomatoes through a food processor. Pour 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 2 cans tomato sauce, 1 can of tomato paste. Add 1/2 cup (or size of tomato sauce can) of water and stir. Add parsley, basil, and sugar (to taste). Bring to boil, then simmer on low for at least 15 minutes, best at 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Verse of the day: "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17
No comments:
Post a Comment