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KackyK
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| Posted: Feb 21 2009 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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I feel so blah always popping open a big jar of Ragu and just adding meat. For Lent I'd like to learn to make homemade sauce.
But something easy! I'm a terrible cook!!!! (What I make is edible, just usually boring and I don't really enjoying cooking so much)
Anyone got a good recipe???
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
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mellyrose
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| Posted: Feb 22 2009 at 10:40pm | IP Logged
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Here's a link to my slow cooker spaghetti sauce. I do use canned tomatoes, but it's EASY and makes the house smell great. It also freezes well. My kids won't eat jarred sauce anymore!
I have also made sauce from fresh tomatoes, but that takes more time & effort!
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Milehimama
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| Posted: Feb 22 2009 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
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I make spaghetti sauce with canned crushed tomatoes.
Chop and onion and some garlic (you know how much your family likes) and cook until it's translucent. Add meat if using, and cook through. I prefer Italian sausage, but ground beef or turkey works well too. If using ground beef, I like to "drain it" by spooning out as much grease as I can or using a turkey baster to suck out the grease. This prevents a grease puddle on top!
Or, if I'm lazy, I dump the meat in a colander and let the fat drain off, then return it to the pot to finish making the sauce.
Add canned crushed tomatoes. I also like to add a can of diced tomatoes to make it "chunky". Then I fill the can about half full or so w/ water and add it in. Add oregano or italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste! Let it simmer until reduced a bit for a better flavor.
I make it meatless by adding cooked white beans instead of meat.
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stacykay
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| Posted: Feb 23 2009 at 6:53am | IP Logged
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I don't do much fancy for mine. My boys don't like sauce from a jar or can.
Here it is, proportion-wise:
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained well.
Then add
1 16 oz can tomato sauce
1 of those little cans of tomato paste
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced (can sub. 1/2 tsp. garlic powder-or to taste)
1 onion, chopped (can sub. 1/2 tsp. onion powder-or to taste) (My little guys don't like to bite into an onion, so I usually use powder)
a dash of pepper
a dash of basil
a dash of oregano
sometimes a teeny bit of rosemary, more so if I am making chicken cacciatore
sometimes some green pepper (this is rare, as my dss and dh don't like green pepper)
Let it all simmer for about 1/2 hour.
My boys prefer rigatoni to spaghetti noodles, but I alternate. I usually also serve a salad and garlic bread I make from a baguette from grocer - slice, butter and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Hope this is helpful.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Wendy
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| Posted: Feb 23 2009 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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Hey, Kacky! 
Here's my very inexact recipe:
3 15oz. cans tomato sauce
2 small cans tomato paste
chopped onion (fresh is good, but dried minced onion works, too)
minced garlic (again, fresh is good, but garlic powder is fine)
some black pepper
some basil (I hardly ever have fresh)
1-2 pounds cooked hamburger
Dh also likes me to add diced tomatoes and sliced mushrooms, but the kids aren't too crazy about that.
HTH!
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 23 2009 at 8:06am | IP Logged
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I always saute chopped onions and minced garlic first in extra virgin olive oil before adding everything else. If using meat I add the meat after sauteing the onions and garlic so the flavor from the aromatics really seeps into the meat and thus the sauce -- and I let the meat brown a bit along with the onions and garlic -- more meaty flavor = yummy!
I also add the following depending on what I have
- red wine if I have some in the fridge
- pork, chicken or beef broth if I have some
- bay leaves!!
- thyme, oregano, parsley and basil are musts for me -- fennel and/or rosemary if I feel like it
- a touch of sugar -- just a spoonful
- if you like more of a bolognese round of flavors add finely chopped carrots and celery too.
in the summer when tomatoes are plentiful, I use fresh and cook it down to the thickness we like.
in the winters I use canned -- recipe very similar to the ones already posted, with the additions I mentioned above.
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Maddie
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| Posted: Feb 23 2009 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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Saute one medium onion and one clove of garlic in a TBLS of olive oil.
Add 2 large cans of diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato paste
2 cups water
1tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp sugar
ETA: You can do 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp sugar.
Slow boil for about an 1/2 hour, then add meatballs.
My meatball recipe is:
4 pieces of bread
soak bread with 1 cup of water
add 3 eggs
blend together
add 1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup of parsley
dash pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
blend well
add raw burger (I usually do about 2 1/2 pounds)
Mix well~ form balls.
You can brown them on the stove top in olive oil, I have been putting them in the oven on 350 for about 1/2 an hour and that is much easier.
Add to sauce, cook on slow boil for an hour, or more. I just add a little extra water if dinner will be a while.
My rule is: If anyone goes in the kitchen while my spaghetti and meatballs is cooking, they MUST whistle the entire time! That way I know they're not eating my meatballs. 
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Topic: homemade spaghetti sauce
