.Saturday Afternoon Sauce (2 hours to sit-down eating!)
Copyright May 12, 2000, All Rights Reserved.
Ok!
The Basic sauce is the same for all variations for spaghetti sauces.
Each recipe makes enough for at least three four-person meals. Make it once, save some in the freezer, have some now... If you're gonna work, then make enough to make cleaning the pots worth while. Keep this in your head, and it becomes real easy to do on the fly.
You will need:
- A large pot - we call them 'Dutch Ovens' - really one that can hold...
- Three 28 ounce cans of tomatoes (whole, crushed, - it really doesn't matter..)
- One-third can of tomato paste (from a 3-ounce can)
- One onion, chopped to 1/4 by 1/4 inch size
- One tsp of regular pepper (black pepper)
- One tablespoon of plain ol' sugar . (this mellows out the acidics of the tomatoes!)
- Now, add just plain salt - about 1/2 tsp. (add more to taste, a little later as we cook the stuff!)
That's it. That's the basic recipe. Simple, Eh?
Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally, so you don't burn the bottom of the pot... Now is a good time to taste, and add spices to taste. Always give your 'addition' time (say ten minutes) to spread through the sauce. add in small quantities, no good surprising yourself with an overpowering excess...
Any time after that...
in another pot (3 quart size)...
- boil up some water and 1/2 tsp of salt,
- throw in some spagetti noodles (1/2 pound or 500 grams),
- turn the heat down to about half, or a little less, and
- check them until done to your liking (about 12 to 18 minutes.)
- Drain the noodles, place on plates, spoon on the sauce.
DONE!
Like I said - it's a basic sauce... Depending on your likes, you can 'spice it up' by adding one or more of the following. Each adds subtle flavour...
- One Green Bell Pepper (about the size of your fist) chopped to 1/2 by 1/2 inch)
- One Red Bell Pepper (about the size of your fist) chopped to 1/2 by 1/2 inch)
- - These taste the same as the green ones, but they make things look 'pretty'...
- Two or three Bay leaves
- Two sticks of Celery chopped in 1/8 inch slices
- One Clove of Garlic (or about 1/2 tsp of Garlic powder)
- - Don't use garlic salt - it's too expensive, (and mostly salt)
- One tsp. of Poultry seasoning
- 1/8 tsp ground Cinnamon
- One tsp of Oregano (more or less if you like it)
- One tsp of ground Red Chili Peppers
- One can of drained sliced Mushrooms
- Lean ground beef/chicken/turkey, browned in a frying pan, with some salt and pepper
- AND... on a 'special day', 4 ounces of red Italian wine...(in the sauce, not your mouth)
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