Home Made Marinara Sauce

I usually double this recipe and freezer half of it for another night when I’m not really in the mood (or the baby just won’t let me) spend time cooking. Doubling the recipe will not effect the times. The money you can save by making your own sauce is INCREDIBLE… and it tastes SO much better than the bottled stuff.

 

Ingredients

• 3 Tbs Olive Oil
• 6 Garlic Cloves (sliced thinly)
• 1 Onion, Chopped
• 1/2 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper (dried)
• 1 (28 oz) Can Plum Tomatoes (chopped up, juices reserved) 
• 1 (15 oz) Can Tomato Sauce
• 1 Tsp Sugar
• 1 Tsp Basil (dried)
• 1/2 Tsp Oregano (dried)
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

 

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. 
2. Add the onion and stir until tender.
3. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add crushed red pepper and tomatoes with juices.
5. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Add tomato sauce, sugar, basil, and oregano.
7. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
8. Uncover and cook until slightly thicker.
9. Add salt & pepper to taste.

 

Balsamic Reduction

A balsamic reduction is only as good as the balsamic vinegar that you use to make it with, so try to pick up a good one for this purpose.

1. Add the balsamic vinegar to a skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, scraping up brown bits.
2. Simmer until reduced by half.
3. Remove from heat and whisk in a tablespoon of butter until melted.
4. Season sauce with salt and drizzle away!

 

Home Made Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce is really easy to make yourself and is noticeable better tasting than the stuff you can buy at the grocery store. I don’t make it often, but when I do it’s a major crowd pleaser (especially over pasta, chicken, and steamed broccoli)!

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Half&Half
• 1/4 Cup Salted Butter
• 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan
• Salt & White Pepper

Directions

1. In a saucepan, bring the half&half to a boil
2. Reduce heat to medium and stir until the cream is reduced by half
3. Remove from heat and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dissolved.
4. Add the parmesan a little at a time, while stirring
5. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

 

Cole Slaw Dressing

This is the best one that I’ve made so far, and i LOVE cole slaw!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbs vinegar
• 1 tbs milk

Just mix it all together and stick it in the fridge for an hour before adding it to the cabbage. Taste it first to see if you want to adjust the seasonings. (I always add more sugar, i like it sweet)

 

Home Made Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. dried, minced onion
• 1/4 c. chili powder
• 3 T. salt
• 4 T. corn starch
• 1 T. dried, minced garlic
• 1 T. ground cumin powder
• 1 T. crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 t. beef bouillon granules

Ditections

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Brown 1 lb. ground beef in a skillet and drain.
3. Add 2 tbs taco seasoning, 1/2 cup water, and bring to a boil.
4. Cook and stir 2 minutes.

You can store the taco mix in a ziplock bag or tupperware container for up to a year.