Uncle Vinnies Spaghetti Sauce Food

COUSIN VINNIE'S TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim the stems from the tomatoes but leave on the skin.
• Put the tomatoes, unpeeled garlic, peeled onion, and the trimmed carrot in a roasting pan.
• Roast the vegetables at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and let sit in the hot oven until the vegetables are cool enough to handle, about 1/2 to 1 hour, depending on your oven.
• Squeeze the pulp out of the tomatoes into a large pot and discard the skins. Pour any juice that accumulated in the roasting pan into the pot.
• Put the pot on the stove on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins into a blender, cut up the onion and carrot into large chunks and add them to the blender. Also add the parsley, basil and oregano.
• Blend until smooth, adding some of the measured wine as needed to make the mixture thin enough to blend. Add the spices and blend well.
• When the mixture is ready, add it all to the pot, and add any of the measured wine that is left.
• When the sauce reaches a boil, turn it down to a simmer and let it sit all day, stirring occasionally, or until it reaches the desired consistency.
• For canning: Add one tablespoon of lemon juice to each pint jar, then add the tomato sauce, leaving 1/2 inch of space. Clean the rims, then put on new (unused) flat lids and rings.
• Add the amount of water recommended for your canner into the canner, place the jars in the canner and seal the lid.
• Follow the manufacturer's directions to process at 10 pounds for 15 minutes (for elevations up to 1000 feet). (If you don't have the manufacturer's directions then I strongly suggest you freeze your sauce instead. Following the proper directions is a must for safe canning.) Allow your canner to cool naturally, not by running it under cold water.
• Check the seals on the jars before storing. Any that didn't seal should be refrigerated and used promptly.

UNCLE VINNIE'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft.
• Pour the canned tomatoes into a large bowl, reserving the juice.
• Crush the tomatoes by hand and put them in a pot.
• Add the onions,garlic and 1/2 cup of the juice and season with salt and pepper, stir.
• Cook until the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Bring to a boil stirring with a wooden spoon to further break up the tomatoes.
• Reduce heat and let simmer 20-30 minutes.
• Stir in fresh basil and check seasoning.

VINNY'S GRAVY

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: Put the bread in a bowl and drench with milk. Let soak for a few minutes, and squeeze the bread out like a sponge.
• In bowl, mix together the beef, pork, and veal until well combined.
• In another bowl, whisk together the Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, eggs, and garlic.
• Add the cheese mixture and soaked bread to the meat and mix well. Form into meatballs.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. A little olive oil and fry the meatballs in batches until well-browned and "hard", as Vinny says.
• Vinny says, "Eat a few."
• To make the sauce: Heat a pot over medium heat and add enough oil to cover the bottom. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring, until lightly browned. Add the tomato paste. Fill the tomato paste can with wine and pour into the pot. Add the tomatoes, and fill the can with water¿add the water. Add the parsley and salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thick and fragrant, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• To make the sausage: Wipe out the skillet you fried the meatball in, and heat over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil and brown the sausages in batches.
• Add the meatballs and sausages to the sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.
• When ready to serve, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain.
• Transfer the spaghetti to a large bowl and add a few spoonfuls of the sauce (without the meatballs and sausages). Mix to coat the spaghetti¿it should be only lightly coated with the sauce, adjust with more accordingly.
• Transfer the sauce to a platter and serve alongside the spaghetti at the table.

UNCLE SAM'S MEATY SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• (If you choose purely beef for the primary meat, the sausage OR meatballs is good. If you choose chicken, use a good chicken sausage to not throw the meats into conflict. If you use ground pork, I don't recommend using any other meats).
• Take diced onions, garlic and peppers and sauté in the olive oil. I usually take a pinch or two of the salt and throw it in here as well.
• Once all the onions are translucent, scoop all the veggies out and put in a bowl on the side. In the same pan with no additional oil, sauté the meats you chose. Brown until almost all the red is gone, but leave just a little bit as this will cause the meat to release a bit more fat into the sauce.
• Drain the meat. I actually put the meat in a metal strainer and lightly rinse under cold water in the sink to get rid of most of the fat (which is why you leave just a bit red).
• Once done, combine all the ingredients cooked so far back in a large sauce pot.
• Add all the cans of tomato products and then using one of the 4 oz. cans of paste, fill with water twice and put into the pot with everything else. Mix all ingredients in the pot well, blending the water into the tomato paste and puree.
• Begin with high heat to get the entire mixture bubbling. (Use a screen strainer over the top of the pot to prevent it from splattering your stove or you).
• Once bubbling turn the heat down to a low medium flame. I recommend a heat displacer if you have one to prevent burning the sauce.
• Once simmering, put all the spices on top of the sauce, spreading around the top and stick the bay leaves into the sauce.
• Let it sit on top for a while, some of the meat oils will surface on the sauce and mix with the spices. Once this happens, blend all the spices into the sauce with a wooden spoon (to be like Pa) --.
• Stirring frequently, cook for about 3 hours.
• This sauce will actually taste best 24 to 36 hours later, so if you can, plan ahead.
• Serve over spaghetti, ravioli or use as your sauce in lasagna.