Have you ever found yourself wishing that you could whip up your own tomato sauce? I know I have! That is why I am so excited about this week’s challenge. Soon I (and you too if you participate with me) will be able to make sauce any time I please just by having a few ingredients in my pantry. Will you come along with me and try your hand at your very own sauce? Join in the challenge as we explore the taste of Italy!

The Technique

Here is our rhyme to help us commit this technique to memory:

Heat fat and garlic, then cook it for two.

Add canned tomatoes and simmer for a few

     To get started with your very own tomato sauce all you need is a combination of 3 or 4 tablespoons olive oil and butter. Heat the fat in a deep skillet or sauce pan on medium-high heat along with an aromatic ingredient (onion or garlic, etc...). Once the aromatic ingredient (or ingredients) have cooked for about 3 or 4 minutes, add some crushed tomatoes (canned ones are fine). As the sauce simmers over medium-low heat add any additional ingredients you desire such as spices, fresh basil leaves, meats, or vegetables. Let sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes or until it thickens and the flavors meld.

    Mrs. Anderson has a couple of tips for us as we embark on this simple recipe. 1.) Instead of the oil and butter you can use the drippings from any meat you plan on adding to the sauce later. Just cook the meat, drain it, and save 3 or 4 tablespoons of the fat for the beginning of the recipe. If you just add your other ingredients into the cooked meat without draining it, you will have too much liquid. 2.) If you use oils instead of the oil and butter combination make sure to cool it down before adding garlic to it or the garlic will burn.

The Assignment

    Now that we are familiar with the technique it is time to try our hand at this simple tomato sauce. Don’t be afraid to doctor it up however you like. The beauty of this recipe is that it is just the base. If your family loves meaty spaghetti, then add ground burger meat or sausage-you get to choose!

    Here are the basic ingredients and their measurements:

Simple Tomato Sauce

(Serves 4-6 people and is enough for 1 pound of spaghetti)

   

Ingredients:

    ~ 3-4 Tablespoons fat (extra-virgin olive oil, butter, or rendered meat fat such as sausage or bacon)

   ~ 3 medium cloves of garlic (minced) or 1 small onion (halved sliced think or chopped fine), or both

    ~ 1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes

    ~ Ground black pepper and salt

    ~ 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves (optional)

    Once all of these ingredients are put together it is up to you to make it your own. Maybe you will try mushrooms and oregano or artichokes and olives... the possibilities are endless!

    Remember, the point of these challenges is to teach us to cook w/o a book so if you find yourself printing off this page or opening your How to Cook Without a Book book, take a deep breath, remember the technique, and continue cooking without a book!

    As always, once you have completed the challenge come back here to THIS page and post about your experience. What did you make? Was it tasty? Do you have any questions or suggestions? You can even upload a picture of your masterpiece! Get involved and be a part of the conversation. **After you leave a comment be sure to click the “Follow” button and check “Email notification” so that you won’t miss what other people say about this technique.** Then meet us back here in two weeks for your next How to Cook Without a book Challenge!