Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Saucy

During FriendshipFest 2011 (which I still need to post about...slacker), we had a pizza feast on our first night. I was in charge of pizza dough and sauce. Daddy helped me with the dough, and I tried my hand at my first ever homemade sauces. I made tomato sauce and alfredo sauce; they were both delicious and SO easy!

Pizza/Spaghetti Sauce
fresh tomatoes (I used the 5 I got at the farmers' market.)
1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes (I squished them up myself...fun!)
minced garlic (I used 2 cloves.)
Italian seasoning (or fresh basil, thyme, oregano)
cayenne pepper
pinch of sugar

In a pot on the stove, squish up the canned tomatoes (with a fork or your hands, if you enjoy a good mess like I do) and dump in their juice. Dice the fresh tomatoes and add them (seeds, skins, and all), as well as the garlic. Season to taste with all the other seasonings, and bring to a low simmer. I let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 2 hours. The goal is to let the water simmer out so the sauce will thicken a bit. Since we were using this on pizzas, I swiped an immersion blender around a few times to make it a bit smoother. I think some chunks would be nice if you use it as a spaghetti sauce.
 
*You could use all fresh tomatoes, or all canned...just depends on what you have handy.
*This made 8-10 servings.
 
Alfredo Sauce
1 stick of butter
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, cut into chunks
1 cup cream, half&half, or milk (I used milk.)
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
garlic powder (optional)
black pepper, to taste

Melt the better in a saucepan or small pot. Add the cream cheese chunks, and whisk until completely melted together. Add milk (or cream, or half&half), Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Whisk well. Remove from heat to thicken, and serve.

*If it's too thick after being refrigerated, thin with a bit of milk.
*I thought this was plenty creamy with milk as the base. You can adjust according to your taste; the sauce will just vary in richness.
*This also made 8-10 servings.

Go forth and sauce it up! Enjoy.

10 comments:

  1. this sounds delicious!!!!!! i so wish i had this in front of me!!!!
    how did you squish the tomatoes? as in, with what? and i also so need one of those blenders!

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  2. Suz, I just squished them with my hands. Squish carefully, though, or you'll be covered with tomato juice when you're done :) I imagine a fork would work just as well. That immersion blender REALLY comes in handy. It sure beats whisking the crap out of a pot of sauce OR dumping the whole thing into a blender!

    I can't even describe how good the alfredo sauce is. That one's a must-try.

    Thanks for stopping by, friend!

    *Julie

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  3. LOVED the sauce and can't wait to try it on my own :) You are such a fantastic cook, my friend!

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  4. LA, I'm glad you loved it. Hey, you can make some for R to celebrate the ram he slayed on his hunting trip :) Thanks again for hosting all of us. You are such a fantastic hostess, my friend! (I'm a copycat ;)

    *Julie

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  5. Leesha, they really are tasty. Thanks a bunch for stopping by; I hope you're having a lovely week!

    *Julie

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  6. Julie,
    How about a jar of that yummy Alfredo sauce Fedx to me! Wow does that ever look yummy. So, what pizza recipe do you use...for the crust?
    I know your enjoying your summer break....I'm off all next week! Yipeeeeee.
    Keep those post coming!
    ~a

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  7. Annesta, be careful what you wish for! You may just find a lifetime supply at your door any day now :) We used my dad's recipe for the crust, but I don't remember it off the top of my head. I'll ask him for it and share it ASAP!

    I'm trying to enjoy every single second of my break because it's going by TOO fast! I'm so, so excited you get a whole week off next week. That should make this week pass by quickly :)

    Thanks for stopping by, friend!

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  8. Delish!!! can you like... come make me a pizza?!? haha!

    I'm pretty sure you have just talked me into reading Anne of Green Gables. I have not ever read them and I bet they may even be better than the movies!! BUT, you MUST see the movies!!!

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  9. Molly, I'll make you a pizza if you'll let me ride one of your horses. And I'll watch the movie if you read the book. Deal? :)

    Thanks for dropping in. I hope your leg heals QUICKLY!

    *Julie

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