There wasn't any sauce.
Crap.
.....
I sent a shout out on Facebook seeing if anyone had a quick and easy spaghetti sauce recipe they could give me and started frantically searching for my Mom's sauce recipe in my (totally unorganized) recipe basket.
No dice.
Craaaaap.
I didn't have all the ingredients it called for.
Craaaaaaaaap.
So, in my Aries way, (I work best under pressure) I began searching up recipes on the iPad, seeing what all the recipes in the internet world had in common.
(Mind you, my child is running around like a heathen, screaming and throwing things. Daddy is downstairs working in his office. The cats are running a muck and Mommy is having a panic attack. Welcome to my life at dinner time.)
My trusty iPad informed me that spaghetti sauce had these things in common:
Garlic
Sugar
Black Pepper
Basil
Oregano
Tomato Paste
Diced Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Cool! I have all of those ingredients!
Uh...no I don't.
Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!
I had everything but the garlic, basil, oregano, and tomato paste.
So, I began rummaging around my spice cabinet again and came up with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
BINGO!!!
I started throwing ingredients in my skillet with the meat already browned, stirred it around really good, and let it simmer, while covered, for a good fifteen minutes.
Result: It was a little watery (needed the tomato paste), but it was really good! It had a sweet taste to it (sugar) which also killed the acid that would have been found in the diced tomato and the tomato sauce.
I was very proud of myself in the kitchen last night. I actually used my resources (and my brain) and was able to produce a spaghetti sauce on the fly.
Go me! :)
 |
| Please pin this image. Ingredients: 1 can of diced tomatoes 1 can of tomato sauce 1 can of tomato paste 2 tbsp. of sugar 1/2 tsp. of black pepper Garlic powder Italian seasoning Add all above ingredients into your skillet with your browned (and drained) meat. When you get to the garlic powder and Italian seasoning, these are to taste. We like garlic around here, but not overpowering amounts. I did 3-4 shakes over the entire skillet of both seasonings and it turned out just fine. Mix everything up in your skillet, set your stove to simmer, and cover for about 15 minutes. Do a taste test before you serve. If it needs more of something, add it now. Voila! On-The-Fly Spaghetti Sauce! So, tell me: What's your go-to spaghetti sauce recipe? |
This post is part of the From My Kitchen series. Please feel free to browse the archive for more yummy deliciousness!
look at you miss betty crocker! such talent! I probably would have ran to the store... hahha
ReplyDeleteHaha Jennie! Thank you! I thought about just going to the store and then decided that I didn't want to lug the kid out to the store (since Daddy was working downstairs and we don't bother Daddy when he is working...unless the house is on fire.) since she was already crazy to begin with. Ha!
DeleteOk, here we go: 1) I knew I liked you for a reason, I'm an Aries too! We do work best under pressure. I'm a HUGE procrastinator! 2) This is a perfect example of why I say everyone can cook!! Recipes are nothing more than a guide. Make them your own and work with what you have! 3) I'm sharing this as part of What I'm Eating Wednesday!!
ReplyDeleteYay! Another Aries! :) And thank you TaMara! I actually had never done that before, but I am super glad it turned out the way it did. It gave me a boost of confidence that I needed. Thank you so much for the share! I appreciate it!
DeleteThat's awesome! I love taking the things I have and making them work. Sometimes they work so well, I wish I'd written it down because I know I'll never be able to recreate it again lol
ReplyDeleteI actually wrote it all down right after dinner was over so I wouldn't forget it, but I know what you mean. I also didn't really think about taking pictures either-I was just worried about it turning out okay! Ha!
DeleteThis is my kind of spaghetti sauce!
ReplyDeleteMine too, Linda! Easy! :)
DeleteGood for you for being able to make it work! It's definitely frustrating when you don't have the ingredients. I usually give up and go to make something else.. but now I think I should try your method of doing things!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked I even decided to wing it! I'm such a control freak/ perfectionist that it is SUPER hard for me to just wing it! Thanks for stopping by Kenzie! Have a great weekend!
DeleteGreat job! I always "cheat" & start with a super basic store bought spaghetti sauce & then I just jazz it up by adding more stewed tomatoes, herbs & spices, more salt, sugar, etc. I've never just made mine completely from scratch, so good job! If you ever want an easy & yummy spaghetti recipe check out this one: http://www.fantasticalsharing.com/2012/12/one-pot-spaghetti.html
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was pretty shocked it worked out as well as it did!
DeleteGlad you figured something out, it still sounds like it would be delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Wine’d Down Wednesday! Pinning your post to our WDW Pinterest board to share with our followers! Hope to see you back at the party next week!
Kristin @ DizzyBusyandHungry.com
Thanks Kristin! Thanks for the pin and I will definitely be back next week! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!
DeleteNecessity is the mother of invention! I bet it tasted way better than anything you could've pulled out of a can anyway!
ReplyDeleteHey Liz! It actually did taste better than the ones out of the jar! :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLove It!! I miss the off the cuff cooking I used to do b4 life got crazy :) I am so using this recipe for dinner tomorrow!! I have all the ingreds and the desire... I do have the jarred sauce but not gonna use it this time :) Thanks Sara for the inspiration!!! ... and the chuckles
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Kelli! Thanks for stopping by! How did your sauce turn out!?
Delete