Crockpot Sauce

Sauce is incredibly important in an Italian household.  If you cannot make a good sauce, there is no way you can marry Italian. I make a pretty good sauce from scratch but during the Winter when good tomatoes are scarce I cook it in the crockpot and start with canned tomatoes.  "Gasp!" Italian women everywhere are shouting "Blasphemy!" as I write this, but it tastes pretty good and is moderately healthy.

Andrea's Crockpot Sauce

1 large can crushed tomatoes 28 ozs.
1 large can diced tomatoes 28 ozs.
1 large can tomato paste 15 ozs.
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green peppers
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
3 cloves of garlic chopped fine.


If you can't get fresh parsley, oregano, and basil at your grocers try using the dried, two tablespoons each.  It's not as good, but it will suffice.  Put this in the crockpot and cook on low for at least 6 hours, 8 is better.

Enjoy over your favorite pasta, I like the pasta with vegetables in it.

Posting Recipes

I'm a Grandmother, Mother, Sister, Aunt, and Niece, so you know I have food stories to tell.  Today I think I'll start with Andrea's Sangria.

Sangria for me takes me to Tarpon Springs, Florida.  My oldest daughter lived there for awhile and I visited once and fell in love with the Greek community and their focus on sponge diving.  While there I went to little restaurant called Mama's with my Aunt.  The two of us enjoyed pitchers of sangria while listening to the fisherman speak Greek and watching the boats come into port.  It was so much fun! So of course, I had to try and recreate my sangria moment.  

Andrea's Sangria

1/2 c. Cognac

3 c. Red or white wine

2 c. Fruit juice

1 sliced orange, lime, and lemon

1/2 c. Sliced strawberries

Put most of the fruit in the bottom of the pitcher. Save a little to garnish the glasses.

Pour cognac over the fruit let set for up to one day. Pour three cups of wine into the pitcher along with two cups of fruit juice. I like orange, pineapple and mango fruit juice, tastes more tropical. Refrigerate.

When ready to serve put a slice of lemon on the bottom of the glass, put in some ice add a slice of orange add more ice and put a slice of lime on the edge of the glass. Pour in sangria and enjoy!