Love pasta? It’s the sauce that matters!
We just love pasta. Its easy to make, comes in lots of shapes and sizes and one of the least expensive meals you can make. But when you really think about it, it’s the sauce that makes the difference. Next shopping trip pick up a can of crushed tomatoes and a jar of your favorite sauce. Compare the ingredients. Most jarred sauces list tomato paste, water and a sugar (high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup) among the first ingredients. The crushed tomatoes typically list just crushed tomatoes and maybe added spices.
Now compare the price. Usually a can of crushed tomatoes will be less than half the cost. Buy it and try it!
Now compare the flavor. I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the robust, rich and fresh taste flavor. Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic and some spices and voila!
And just a reminder, when cooking that pasta, never add oil to the boiling water. The oil will coat the pasta and the sauce will slide right off.
I usually buy ONE jar of the most natural ingredients and add either canned tomatoes or (preferably) fresh tomatoes. You crush them up, add some tomatoe paste and LOTS of spices. Making a sauce completely from scratch is quite time consuming as the tomatoes should could down for a couple hours, the longer the better. Plus, it takes a lot of fresh tomatoes to make a big pot of sauce. It works though if you grow your own tomatoes (since they all ripen at once). It also helps if you have kids who like squeezing things.
I usually buy canned tomatoe sauce with Italian Herbs and add diced tomatoes, 1 packet of splenda to cut the acidity, and garlic, onion, basil, pepper & salt. If I add meat it's usually chucken that was browned & cut up first, or browned ground serlion (drained before adding). I let it simmer for a while, maybe only 1 hour or less.
Its's a favorite of my family & the neighbor kids!