Pizza Sauce

Making homemade pizza sauce is easy. Most of the ingredients you might already have on hand and it takes only a few minutes to throw together.

Here’s what you need:

2 cans of tomato sauce (if you are only doing one small pizza I would recommend only 1 can), onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil and sugar.

Empty tomato sauce into a bowl. You might want a bigger bowl than the one I used because as you can see, I came close to some major spillage.

Add rest of ingredients, add more to taste…..

then stir to mix well.

Spread onto your pizza dough.

Now that wasn’t so hard was it?

Pizza sauce
Ingredients:

1 or 2 8oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. sugar

Directions:

Pour tomato sauce into a bowl. Add rest of ingredients and stir to mix well. Spread desired amount on to pizza dough.

Dad’s BBQ Sauce

My Dad liked to cook. He’d would often joke that growing up he and his brother would take turns doing yard work with their dad, then the next day learning to cook from their mother. My dad rarely followed a recipe. He loved to go into the kitchen and invent his own dishes. I can honestly say, they all pretty much came out really well. The other day I was going through some old recipes that he had written down and found his “secret” BBQ sauce. Even though my dad has been gone now for almost 10 years, it makes me feel like he is right beside me when I cook some of those dishes he made and this is one of them.

This sauce can be a bit tangy, so tweak away if you feel the need.

Dad’s BBQ Sauce

1/2 C. Ketchup
1/4 C. water
2 TBS. vinegar
1 TBS. Worstershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. mustard
3 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. chili powder

Mix all ingredients together. Brush on meat while grilling or baking, or can be used as a marinade.

Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

I like to use this sauce when I’m having meatballs with the spaghetti. The meatballs are pretty flavorful so I wanted a simple sauce to go with it. I like making a large batch of sauce so I can freeze half for a later time. You can also use frozen meatballs, just cook according to package directions.

Here’s what you need for the sauce:

2 cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 TBS. tomato paste,1 onion, 2tsp. sugar, 2 garlic cloves, coarse salt, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaf

Start by chopping up the onion…

then mince the garlic cloves.

In a large pot, add a few Tbs. of olive oil, heat to medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Cook until onions are tender.

Pour in both cans of tomatoes.

Next stir in the tomato paste.

Throw in the sugar.

Add basil and thyme….

then salt to taste.

Stir well.

Add 1 bay leaf.

Cover and  simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.

I know some like to add the meatballs to the sauce while the sauce is simmering. I like to keep mine separate until I add them on top of the spaghetti. But if you prefer, you can add them to the sauce the last 20 minutes of cooking.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

Top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

Ingredients for the Marinara Sauce:

2 cans of crushed tomatoes
1 TBS. tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves,minced
2tsp. sugar
coarse salt to taste
1 Tbs.dried basil
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf

Directions:

In a large pot, add a few Tbs. of olive oil, heat to medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Cook until onions are tender. Pour in both cans of tomato sauce and stir in tomato paste. Add rest of ingredients and stir well. Simmer covered for 45 minutes to an hour. While sauce is simmering prepare meatballs (recipe follows below). If using frozen, cook according to package directions.

Recipe for Meatballs:

1 1/2 lbs. of ground beef
1/2 onion. chopped
1 tsp. dried sage
1 Tbs. dried basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. salt or more to taste
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 egg
1/2 C. shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 C. dried bread crumbs
1/4 C. milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small sauce pan, add a few drizzles of olive oil. Add the onions and cook on medium low for about 15 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add a pinch of salt and the sage. Stir and cook about 1 minute more. Remove pan from heat and let the onions cool.

In a large bowl add ground beef, and rest of ingredients. Mix just until ingredients are combined then form into balls. In a cast iron skillet or another oven proof pan,add a drizzle of olive oil and heat on medium high heat. Add meatballs and cook about 5 minutes. Turn each one over and continue cooking another 5 minutes. Place skillet into the oven and cook about 5 minutes or until meatballs are done. If you do not have an oven proof pan, place meatballs onto a baking sheet.

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Add meatballs and marinara sauce. Top with shredded parmesan cheese.

Meaty Spaghetti Sauce

If you have never made your own spaghetti sauce, you should try it. It’s really not that hard. Don’t get me wrong, there are many times I’m too pooped to cook, so opening a jar of sauce works for me, but this recipe is simple. You can even teak it to make it you own.

This is the same sauce I use in my lasagna. It freezes wonderfully, so I sometimes make a large batch to freeze that way I have some on hand.

Here’s what you need:

2 cans crushed tomatoes, 1 small can tomato  paste,1 1/2 lbs of ground beef, onion, dried basil, dried thyme, 2 clove of garlic (they are there, they just got cut off in the picture with my awesome picture taking), dried oregano, paprika, chili powder (yes, you read right), onion powder, garlic powder, salt, sugar and a bay leaf.

Chop 1 onion

In a large pot add about 2 to 3 Tbs of olive oil. Heat to medium heat.

Add onions.

Mince 2 garlic cloves.

Throw into the pot. Cook about 5 minutes or until onions become tender. Remove onions and garlic; set aside.

In same pot, add beef and cook over medium high heat until meat is brown. Drain if needed. I sometimes like to add 1/2 lb of Italian sausage.

Add onions and garlic back to the pot.

Sprinkle in 1Tbs. basil, 1 Tbs. Thyme, 2 tsp. oregano, 2 tsp. paprika, 2 tsp. onion powder, 2 tsp, garlic powder, 2 tsp. chili powder (yes I know, you are thinking..chili powder in spaghetti sauce?? It gives the sauce a nice flavor. Try it, you might be surprised) and 1 tsp salt.

Spoon in 1/2 can tomato paste.

Stir well with beef mixture and cook about 1 minute more.

Pour in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes.

Add 1 tsp. sugar. Stir well. If sauce is too thick, add a little water. Taste and add any more spices or salt if you prefer. I usually add a little more of everything.

Throw in 1 bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.

Serve over noodles with Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Meaty Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:

2 cans crushed tomatos
1 small can tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 ground beef
1Tbs. basil
1 Tbs. Thyme
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp, garlic powder
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 can tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 bay leaf

Directions:

In a large pot add about 2 to 3 Tbs of olive oil. Heat to medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes or until onions become tender. Remove onions and garlic; set aside. In same pot, add beef and cook over medium high heat until meat is brown. Drain if needed.
Add onions and garlic back to the pot. Sprinkle in 1Tbs. basil, 1 Tbs. Thyme, 2 tsp. oregano, 2 tsp. paprika, 2 tsp. onion powder, 2 tsp, garlic powder, 2 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 can tomato paste and 1 tsp salt. Stir well with beef mixture and cook about 1 minute more.

Pour in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and add 1 tsp. sugar. Stir well. If sauce is too thick, add a little water. Taste and add any more spices or salt if you prefer. Add in bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.

Serve over noodles with Parmesan cheese.