Spaghetti in Meat Sauce

So, this week is a little different... I don't feel like going to the grocery store! Can you believe it?! Normally it's one of my favorite gateways( sad but true). When you have two little ones at home you take any and every opportunely to get out of the house. Not to mention the discovery of new foods and my favorite part crating something truly fabulous. Well, this week is different. Every few months I go through a week I make whatever i have on hand. This goes on until I have no choice but to go to the store. I call it Pantry Cooking. Now I'm not saying that I'm going to go all week, but I thought that if anyone was reading this they might be amused at least.



Last night as I rummaged through my pantry I remembered my husband saying how much he would love to have just a simple plate of spaghetti. Crazy I know but I realized I hadn't made it in probably 6 months at least! I thought for sure I find a jar of sauce in there...nope. What I did find was cans of whole tomatoes , crushed tomatoes, paste etc.I like to stock up on caned goods when their on sale at the store. Then I remembered that a couple weeks ago I bought pork sausage on sale for a recipe I thought I would make and never did. ( I can't even remember what it was for...hmm).


Ingredients

1 pkg ground pork sausage
1 28oz can of whole tomatoes
1 28 oz crushed tomatoes
1 6oz can tomato paste
1 large onion
2 garlic cloves
1 cup water
2 Tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 Tbs salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbs parsley

Directions

Brown the meat( which by the way you can use ground turkey or beef too. If using one of these meats add just the herbs, dash of salt and pepper to meat while browning to add flavor). In a nice big pot sautéed the onions then add garlic just until it's little soft but not mushy. Don't worry to much about it because it's going to simmer awhile. Add all the cans of tomato products. Think chunky and liquids for tomatoes. If you have more chunk add more water. Always add thinner liquids a little at a time. Once meat is browned add it to the big pot plus seasoning If you have already added seasonings in with the meat just add the salt and sugar.If you need more seasoning add basil start with 1/2tsp and taste. Simmer for an 1-2 hrs on low heat.If to salty add sugar if to sweet add salt. They counter act each other. This probably would do very nicely in the slow cooker hmm... a thought for the future. Once your within 20-25 min of eating boil some water and add your noodles. Many times you can use other recipes as a foundation and then build your own from there. The amount for seasonings came from a Lasagna recipe I have. I hope this inspires you to have some fun!