Rocco, Oh how I Love You...

You can use a great tomato sauce for just about anything-To make spaghetti, lasagna, simmer vegetables, add to ground meat, use on pizza. The ideas are endless. When I found this tomato sauce recipe, I knew it was the one. Plus, I love Rocco DiSpirito’s recipes. His five minute meals cook book has saved my life. Although sometimes he uses ingredients that I have to substitute for others, but I still love him. Did I mention that he is very easy on the eyes as well?

Here is his recipe, untouched, exactly the way I found it. And, this is exactly the way I make it (except, I use organic tomato products…sorry Rocco)

Go to www.roccodispirito.com


Mamas Marinara
© Spirit Media 2004-2008 All Rights Reserved
My Mom's sauce is my favorite--we call it the Mama sauce, and once you make it you will understand how it can become the backbone for so many dishes. Of course, you'll need it to make her famous meatballs, but it is also a great sauce to braise meat in, serve with eggs, or turn into a creamy tomato sauce.

3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 yellow onion, peeled and chopped fine
3 tbsp olive oil
chili flakes to taste
2 28-ounce cans tomato puree, Red Pack brand if possible
1 28-ounce. can crushed tomatoes, Red Pack brand if possible
1 tbsp tomato paste, Red Pack brand if possible
1 tsp sugar
1 cup chicken stock
red pepper flakes to taste
salt to taste

1. Cook the garlic and onion in the olive oil in a sauce pot over a medium-low flame, about 10 minutes or until garlic is tender and onions translucent, not brown (this is called "sweating" because it will draw out a lot of moisture and flavor). Add the chili flakes to taste.

2. Add all the tomato products. Pour the chicken stock into one of the 28-oz cans. Fill it the rest of the way with water and add that and the sugar to the pot. Stir and bring to a simmer. Taste and season with salt and cover. Simmer the sauce for about 1 hour. The sauce should be fairly thin, but not watery and very smooth. Uncover and simmer for 3 minutes if it is too thin for your taste; add a little water if it seems thick.

Oatmeal is good. Yes it works.

When something works, it just works and that is how I am starting to feel about food. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it doesn’t have to be earth shattering, it just has to work (for you).

I came to this realization the other day while going through a cookbook. There were some recipes that were very simple and I thought to myself, “Well, duh, of course, who wouldn’t think of that…” but then I realized that this is a recipe that works, it isn’t crazy, it doesn’t have to be complicated, it just works. The flavors, textures and tastes all work together quite nicely and then I thought, “Why, yes, this recipe works.”

So, here it is, a nice simple recipe that works. I am sure I am not the first person to put these things together and I hopefully won’t be the last. I love the flavor and I am sure you will too.

Apple Peanut Protein Punch Oatmeal

Directions (serves 2):
1. Add water and Oatmeal to small saucepan and bring to a boil
2. Simmer at medium/low heat for 3 minutes
3. Add diced apples
4. Add Apple Pie Spice
5. Simmer for another 3 minutes
6. Remove from heat
7. Stir in peanut butter
8. Serve with a splash of cream or milk

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup old fashioned oats (organic preferred)
2. 1 ¾ cup water
3. ½ cup diced apples (organic, I leave the peal on for extra fiber)
4. 1 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice (a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg)
5. 2 table spoons natural peanut butter (organic)

…told you it was easy…but it works!