Sneaky Mommas Tomato Sauce Recipes

MY MOTHER'S TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Open the can of tomatoes and pour the juice into a bowl. Use the lid to press against the tomatoes to extract as much juice as possible. In the can, avoiding cutting yourself with the rim, use your hand to squeeze the tomatoes to a pulp. Re-strain out the new juices, and reserve the juice and pulp separately. Fill the empty can half full with water and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook with a pinch of salt, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until golden. Add the tomato juices and bring to a boil. Simmer rapidly until the juice thickens, then add the crushed tomato pulp, oregano, the half can of water, bay leaf, and salt and pepper, to taste. Adjust the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until the mixture thickens and reduces to about 3 1/2 cups, about 30 to 45 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peels and squeeze out seeds.
• Chop 8 tomatoes and puree them in a blender or food processor until smooth. Chop remaining 2 tomatoes and set aside.
• Heat butter and oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot, and garlic; cook and stir until onion softens, about 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes, then stir in chopped tomatoes, wine, basil, and Italian seasoning. Place celery stalks and bay leaf in the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
• Stir in tomato paste; simmer for an additional 2 hours. Discard celery and bay leaf and serve.

SNEAKY CROCK POT SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Squeeze the sausage out of the casings into a skillet and brown; you can also "brown" the meat in a microwave colander.
• Drain off fat and add meat to crock pot.
• In a food processor, combine mushrooms, onion, garlic, and bell pepper and process until minced. If you don't have a food processor, just chop well.
• Add mixture to crock pot.
• Add tomato sauce, tomatoes (with juice) and tomato paste. Stir in the salt, pepper and dry salad dressing mix.
• Stir through, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or 4 hours on high.
• Serve over hot pasta. I prefer whole wheat spaghetti or linguine.
• Top with shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese.

EASY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook onion in olive oil until translucent. Stir in tomatoes, cook until juice begins to thicken. Stir in puree, salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes more, until rich and thick.