Tasty Tuesday -- Hot Italian Pasta Sauce

I make my sauce from semi-scratch. I had a boyfriend once who actually crushed/grated the tomatoes. I like to buy the tomatoes in a can. Sometimes, I even add a jar of ready made to the crushed than doctor it up. Lots more basil, some parmesan, and more garlic...all fresh...

It's YUMMY!

This sauce, the Hot Italian Pasta Sauce, I make Matt spit in....

Just Kidding, but yes, he's Italian on his mother's side.

First, buy a package of hot italian sausage, red bell peppers, green bell peppers and onion.
cook the sausage in a bit of Olive Oil until cooked through.
Add the chopped/sliced peppers and onion. Saute until flavors are blended or veggies are tender but still colorful.

Add everthing to the sauce you've made whether it be from a jar, out of can and doctored, or straight from your garden. Simmer for at least half an hour. OMG, yum. You won't be sorry!

We ate this yesterday with penne. Today, I'm going to make pizza with the leftover sauce.

Tasty Tuesday -- A side of Meat

There is nothing better than a meal shared with my husband. With our four children, two on each side, seperating us, he still takes the time to give me the eye and make jokes only I will understand. He is one prime cut.

It's in the eyes...see it?

Nobody makes Meatloaf anymore [no one listens to Meatloaf, either, but I, for one, Love Both].

1. 2 lbs ground beef
2. one packet dried onion soup
3. 1/2 c bread crumbs
4. 1/4 c parmesan cheese
5. 2-3 Tbs Worsteshire Sauce
6. 3/4 c water
7. 1 egg
8. salt and pepper

combine all ingredients and mix -- hand mixer or kneading it

Press firmly into loaf pan and cook.

Um... 375 for about 45 minutes to an hour. LOL truly. don't be afraid. The temp is a good one, it's the time that may vary depending on your stove, your location... or your taste preference.

Pull loaf from pan when done cooking so it doesn't sit in the fat.

Slice and serve.

If I have onions on hand I'll chop one and add it. Basically, I like to wing it. Please don't kill your meatloaf with catsup. If there's anything I've learned as a wife and mother, it's to go easy on the catsup in meatloaf and the butter in mashed potatoes. No matter how much you put in, everyone is going to add more once it's on their plate...lots more. :D Hope you enjoy. Hope I didn't forget anything either.

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have your pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

Tasty Tuesday

Pumpkin Cookies

1 stick margarine
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c pumpkin [canned is fine]
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg

2 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Okay, this recipe is totally off the cuff.
I did make it. It's a variation on my chocolate chop recipe...
The flour will be key. Make sure you add enough so that the cookie dough is stiff enough. It will be goopy, a little messy, but NOT poury. It should hold its shape when you drop it on the pan.

Bake at 350 for about 8-12 minutes.

Tasty Tuesday

It's my family's favorite recipe for chili.

I used to hate chili, so this one was perfect because it didn't include beans!

Now, I add beans as well. :)

One pound of ground beef browned in a quarter cup of Italian dressing.

Drained.

Add to pot:

Meat

1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 can of French onion soup with beef stock [found with a Campbell's label]

1 can of water

2 cans of diced chili peppers

3 tablespoons of chili powder

*1 can of black olives

*1 can of beans, kidney or black, drain and rinse before adding.

Simmer for a good while. LMAO. The longer it simmers, the hotter it'll be...and I do mean spicy.

This recipe comes from the Marlboro cookbook.

From the days my hubby and I smoked...and thought we could afford the good stuff.

Now we don't smoke at all, but DAMN, they sure know how to cook over there at the Marlboro ranch. Keep warm this winter! Make some chili.