Kittencals Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce Vegetarian Or Meat Option Food

KITTENCAL'S ITALIAN TOMATO PASTA SAUCE AND PARMESAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the meatball recipe as directed on the recipe; transfer to a plate cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use (the meatballs may be prepared up to 1 day in advance).
• Drain the diced tomatoes over a strainer.
• Coat bottom of large heavy-bottomed pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat.
• Saute onion with bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper and crushed chili peppers for about 5-7 minutes or until the onions are transparent.
• Add in fresh garlic; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste;mix and stir for about 2 minutes or until well combined with the onion mixture.
• Add in the wine; stir well to combine.
• Add the 2 cans crushed tomatoes (can use 3 cans if you are freezing some sauce) and the drained diced tomatoes, stir and bring to a light boil; boil for 5-8 minutes then reduce heat to low.
• Add in uncooked meatballs to the sauce (if you are adding the meatballs uncooked do not stir for 30 minutes or you may run the risk of them falling apart in the simmering sauce).
• Simmer uncovered on low heat for about 3-5 hours (the longer you simmer uncovered the thicker and richer your sauce will be so don't be afraid to simmer even 6 hours!) adding more salt if desired.
• Skim off any fat that might gather on top of sauce.
• Allow to cool to room temperature then refrigerate (with the meatballs in the sauce) a minimum of 1 day or up to 4 days before using.
• Use as much as desired then freeze the rest for another meal, just reheat the sauce on top of the stove or heat in microwave (this will freeze well for up to 6 months).
• Note: if desired, you can bake the meatballs in the oven before adding to the sauce.

KITTENCAL'S MARINARA PASTA SAUCE (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed stockpot or Dutch oven heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add in onions, garlic and dried red pepper flakes, basil and oregano; saute for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add in the tomato paste and stir for 2-3 minutes.
• Add in the Roma tomatoes with juice and wine; simmer uncovered over low heat for 1-2 hours (I usually cook it for at least a couple of hours) stirring occasionally.
• Season with salt and pepper and add in sugar if desired.
• **NOTE** if you prefer a thinner sauce, then add in some water.

KITTENCAL'S DELICIOUS MEATY PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven heat oil, then add in the basil, oregano, chili flakes, bay leaf and onion; saute, stirring with a wooden spoon for about 4 minutes (this will release the flavors in the spices).
• Add in garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add in tomato paste and cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.
• Add in ground beef and sausage meat; cook until well browned (about 10 minutes) drain any fat.
• Add in the wine and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring.
• Add in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, mushrooms, sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 2 hours (or you can simmer for longer on low heat).
• Season with black pepper.
• Remove the bay leaf and serve over hot cooked pasta then sprinkle with lots grated Parmesan cheese.

KITTENCAL'S CREAMY TOMATO PASTA SAUCE (VEGETARIAN OR MEAT OPTION

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat (use enough oil to cover the bottom of your pot you may need more than 1/4 cup).
• Add in onion, bell pepper and chopped sun-dried tomatoes; cook stirring for about 5-6 minutes or until softened.
• Add in garlic, chili flakes and basil; cook stirring for 2 minutes,.
• Add in tomato paste; stir for 2 minutes.
• Add in crushed and plum tomatoes with juice; bring to a simmer over medium heat stirring and breaking up the whole tomatoes with a fork.
• Reduce heat to low cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and continue to simmer over low heat for another 2 hours stirring frequently (the longer cooking/simmering time over low heat the better this sauce will be, if your sauce becomes too thick add in a little water and continue cooking).
• Season with salt and black pepper about halfway through cooking.
• At this point and before the addition of the cream you may cool the sauce and refrigerate up to 3 days.
• At the end of cooking mix in the cream starting with 1/3 cup and adding in more until you reach your desired creaminess; stir until heated through.
• Delicious!
• THE ADDITION OF SAUSAGE MEAT; in the pot brown the sausage meat with onion, bell pepper and sun-dried tomatoes until no longer pink (breaking up the meat while cooking) drain fat.
• Add in the garlic, red pepper flakes and basil; cook stirring until the meat is browned (about 7-8 minutes, or best flavor the meat should be lightly browned).
• Add in the tomato paste and continue with the recipe as stated from step# 5.

SIMPLE STUFFED SHELLS (WITH NO MEAT OPTION)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F and grease a 9x13" casserole; if you have not already done so, prepare pasta shells according to package directions and also brown your sausage, drain & crumble.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, all of the ricotta (use 2 cups if not using meat or if you like it very cheesey, even if you are using meat, otherwise use just 1 cup), as well as the parsley (reserving a small amount to garnish), egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic, nutmeg and black pepper.
• Pour sauce into the baking dish and then set the unfilled shells on top facing up so that you can fill them.
• Evenly portion out the crumbled sausage, if using, in the bottom of each shell.
• Spoon filling to a large ziptop plastic bag and snip off one corner.
• Pipe about 2 Tbsp filling into the each of the prepared pasta shells, or as much or as little as you prefer.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes or until sauce is bubbling under the foil.
• Remove foil, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and bake, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
• Serve extra sauce from the pan on the side.

KITTENCAL'S PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat the olive oil; saute the onions, Italian seasoning and oregano for about 2-3 minutes, stirring until soft but not brown.
• Add in garlic and saute for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add in the tomato paste; stir and cook 1 minute.
• Add in the remaining ingredients; cook and simmer on low heat for 1/2 to 3/4 hours, stirring occasionally, adding more salt if needed (the longer you cook this sauce the thicker and richer it will be!).
• Cool slightly and use immediately or refrigerate up to 5 days or you may freeze.
• *NOTE* freeze in plastic containers after cooled, I find that this sauce tastes even better if left in the fridge overnight to blend the flavors before using or freezing.
• Delicious!