Nothing beats real homemade tomato sauce

Last week, I went through my regular routine (about every 2-3 months) of making my big batch of tomato sauce.  A lot of my friends will make their tomato sauce on Sundays.  I find making my big batch allows me make portions that I can freeze so anytime I want to make pasta, I have it ready to go.

Each time I make my sauce, I have memories of my mom doing this every Sunday.  We would go to Sunday mass and when we returned, she would make her pot of sauce that would be enough for the week.  It was a tradition to have a pasta dish for Sunday lunch/dinner.

My sauce process takes about two hours since I also make homemade meatballs.  I have been asked by some friends for recipes for my sauce and meatballs.  I really don’t have a recipe.  I just add as I go along.  I have the usual spices and ingredients but as for amounts, I couldn’t really tell you since I just “eye” it. 

The tomatoes I use are those that we did back at the end of the summer with my parents.  That was a 3 day process of canning the tomatoes but nothing beats the real thing.

When I make my big batch, I usually use 10-12 jars depending on how long I want them to last or if I will be needing the sauce for special occasions or making things such as lasagna etc.

For my sauce, my usual spices are basil, oregano, parsley (Italian seasonings), salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  I also sauté some onions and garlic.

The sauce usually simmers a bit with the spices and onion/garlic while I prepare the meatballs.

On this occasion, I used three types of ground meat for the meatballs – beef, veal and pork.  Depending on what is available, I have made them with just beef but I find using a variety of meats gives it a better, richer taste.

I also add some minced garlic and/or onion, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, parsley, eggs, grated parmigiano cheese and bread crumbs.  Again, I can’t give you amounts since I really eye ball it and look for a certain texture of the meat.  I don’t really want it to be “dry” but have some moisture to it.  I usually add at least ½ cup to 1 cup of cheese and at least ½ cup of bread crumbs when I’m making a big batch as I did with this.

Once all the meatballs have been rolled, I have put them in the oven.  I have also fried them in the past when I only have a few.  Baking them doesn’t take as long and I find doesn’t have all the oil from frying.  I usually bake them at about 375 for about 25 minutes or until they are getting browned.  I also turn them during the baking process.  Depending on the size of the meatballs, they may take more or less time.

I will then add the meatballs to the sauce and have the sauce simmer for about 2 hours to infuse the flavour of the meat into the sauce.  Boy, does the kitchen smell great when I am making the sauce!  I remember when my mom made her sauce, she would put some in a bowl, give me some fresh italian crusty bread and I would dunk away.  Talk about an amazing snack while I waited for lunch or dinner! 

I know some of you may be thinking, “I don’t have the time to do this” or "I don’t have canned tomato jars”.  There are other alternatives to making your own.  You can buy canned tomatoes and then make your own pasta sauce.  My process may take a bit of extra time but nothing beats the taste of homemade.  It also allows me to continue my Italian family tradition of making my own sauce.  My goal is to continue this tradition with my kids when they grow up and have their own families!  I hope I have inspired you to try something homemade – Buon Appetito!!!



 

Pizza Anyone?

Who says making pizza has to be difficult? Well that wasn't the case a few nights ago when I had some friends over for one of my cooking classes.  This time there were 9 women who wanted to learn the “art” of making a homemade authentic Italian pizza. There were no recipes, measuring cups or measuring spoons used; just a desire to learn, have fun and eat lots of yummy food!

Some of my friends were new to cooking but were eager to learn techniques on making an easy and delicious meal to impress friends and family.

Simona trying out the rolling pin

We made 6 pizzas in less than 2 hours and got creative with our toppings....not just the usual cheese and pepperoni.  Fresh ingredients from my homemade sauce to the roasted veggies were used.   It was incredible how some of the girls started off with a bit of apprehension on how to roll out the dough but in the end looked like pros.  They gained new confidence that anything was possible.  It was great to see how a simple thing like making pizza has now given them a desire to create their own homemade meals.   I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.  Look at all the fun we had...

Rita feeling really comfortable with the dough

Getting the pizza ready for the oven

Simona feeling very proud of the finished product

So next time, instead of calling your local pizza parlour, have some fun and try making a homemade pizza...you'll be amazed on how simple and delicious it can really be! 

EASY TURKEY STOCK

I hope all my Canadian friends are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Short and quick post today as I am enjoying a relaxing day with my wonderful family!

As promised, here is a an easy recipe for making Turkey Stock.  It's great for making soups or gravy!

Here is the link:
Turkey Stock

ENJOY!!!

Thanksgiving Made Easy

Thanksgiving No Fail side dish

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to spend with family and friends and should be a day to be thankful for all the great things in our lives.  For those entertaining, it can end up being a fun challenge cooking.  I try to make it as easy as possible by preparing easy dishes or even better yet, make ahead dishes. 

One of my favourites is CREAMY MASHED POTATOES AND CAULIFLOWER.   My sister first made this dish for a Thanksgiving dinner over 15 years ago.   Since that time, it has been a hit with friends and family who always ask for the recipe.  This dish can be prepared and frozen up to 2 weeks in advance.  The other good thing about it is the hidden cauliflower.  If it’s a challenge to get your kids to eat their veggies, this is a great way to “hide” them.  Sadly, my sister will not be with us this Thanksgiving as she passed away last year from her strong battle with cancer.  We will be thinking of her and know in our hearts she will be smiling down from heaven knowing I have kept her tradition alive.

So here is the recipe.  Remember to take the time to appreciate all those sitting at your table.  If you do incorporate this into your Thanksgiving, I would love to hear from you. 

From my family to yours….enjoy!  And thank you Lina...

Recipe for 8-10 servings (***I usually double the recipe to allow for second helpings and leftovers)

8 large potatoes, peeled and quartered       

6 garlic cloves, peeled

3 cups cauliflower florets (about half head)

1 package (250 g) light cream cheese, cubed

1 cup sour cream

Salt and pepper

½ cup each fresh bread crumbs and chopped fresh parsley (you can use dried parsley instead but use less)                                                                                                                    

In large pot boiling salted water, cook potatoes and garlic 10 minutes.   Add cauliflower to pot; cook 10 minutes, until potatoes and cauliflower are tender.   Drain well; return to pot over low heat to dry out a little.  Add 2 Tb (25 mL) butter; mash well.   Add cream cheese, sour cream and salt and pepper to taste; beat until creamy.  Spoon into greased 10 cup (25 L) baking dish.   In small bowl, combine bread crumbs and parsley; sprinkle evenly over vegetables and dot with remaining butter. (Recipe can be prepared ahead up to this point.  Let cool, then refrigerate, covered, up to2 days, or freeze for up to 2 weeks. If frozen, thaw in refrigerator 48 hours before reheating and add 10minutes to reheating time.)  When ready to reheat, preheat oven to 325F (l60C).  Remove dish from fridge; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.  Reheat, covered, in oven 20 minutes. Remove lid; heat 10 minutes, until heated through and golden brown on top.

What is this blog all about? 

Well I think I’ve chosen the perfect title to describe what I will be writing about, which is all things inspiring.

My two loves for design/decorating and home cooking have always been ‘inspired’ by my surroundings.  Sometimes it was my mother in the kitchen cooking batches of sauce, or the latest edition of House and Home magazine triggering an idea from which I can feed. My inspiration also comes from my family, my husband and two fantastic children.

Life inspires me, as I journey through new stages in my life which I’m sure I will touch on here.  But the blog is mostly about decorating, for living, not IMPRESSING.  I am a Certified Staging Professional and started with the intention of staging homes for sale.  Although I still do that, I’ve found more people interested in staging to LIVE.  This is an important difference because although it is nice to purchase the latest and greatest of everything, I personally try to be as practical as possible.  I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, try something new, stand back and create something from my own two hands.

That relates to my passion for cooking also – I COULD just buy a bunch of cupcakes for my daughters birthday, but it’s a lot more fun creating them WITH her from scratch.  Not only do I spend time WITH her, I am doing something I love AND teaching her at the same time.

I would sum up what I do as “adapting”.  I use what I have available to make things work.  I hope you enjoy my ideas and inspiration also and maybe we can learn from each other on how easy it is to have the home you’ve always wanted.

So if you are ready to join me on this journey, we will together, create exciting recipes, re-arrange our homes, inexpensively craft everyday and holiday décor as well as share challenges and life insights that I have learned as a dedicated mother, wife, friend and colleague.

Until next time, always remember to take the time to look around...inspiration is everywhere!

“The possibilities of creative effort connected with the subconscious mind are stupendous and imponderable. They inspire one with awe.”  Napoleon Hill