moving forward, Recipes

Homemade red sauce

Happy Thursday!!! I took it to the kitchen after work today. I’ve discovered the joy of making my own red sauce and will never buy jarred again. I don’t have an exact recipe, but I can tell you I roasted a bunch of Roma tomatoes with garlic and onions/drizzled with avocado oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, oregano and basil-roasted about 25 minutes at 350, then cooled and removed the skins.
In a large sauce pan, sauté half of a diced white onion, one diced carrot (breaks up the acidity of the tomatoes with natural sweetness), and a ton of minced garlic🤣. Add one large can of peeled whole Roma tomatoes that’s been drained. Squish the tomatoes with your hands (or a spoon lol), add a few chunks of Parmesan cheese Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano and basil. Cook down for about 25 minutes. Add in the tomatoes you roasted and removed the skin, and purée with an immersion blender or whatever you use to blend things.
Add back to the sauce pan, and let warm through. Add a pat or two of butter to finish it off.
This time I added sautéed Italian Turkey sausage and served over brown rice noodles. Yum!!

Do you enjoy making homemade sauces? What’s your favorite?

Friday

Five things, Friday

Ah, it’s been a while since I did a five things, Friday post.  This week my 5 things come with photos of a few of my favorite things this week…because isn’t every good blog post filled with pics?

Here goes:

First…tonight I had a day off because I am working the next 6 days and IL law states you can’t work more than 6 days in a row.  What did I do?  I set my alarm to take my eldest to school so she wouldn’t have to wait outside in sub zero temps, I took a nap,  I cleaned my house, did laundry, my AB challenge,  and cooked this beautiful meal for my family.  Once I perfect the recipe, I’ll post it!

 

My deconstructed "Burger and Fries."
My deconstructed “Burger and Fries with homemade BBQ sauce.”

After picking up my mini me from after school care I checked the mail.  It’s been a while as our drive way is hella long, and well, it’s darn cold outside.  I received this beautiful hand made apron and pot holders from my dear friend Michelle who is the most self-less person I know.  While she battles her second bout of cancer, she sews me an apron because she is concerned about my thumb, and over all well being.  I couldn’t hold back the tears.  Wow.

A gift from someone who deserves more gifts than I can even dream of giving...
A gift from someone who deserves more gifts than I can even dream of giving…

And then there’s this guy…We’ve had our fair share of struggles.  He travels more than I’d like.  He plays too many video games.  But at the end of the day, HE supports me and loves me, even when I am pretty tough to love.  Which is often…lol

This dude...yeah...
This dude…yeah…

THIS day.  This.  The day I put off for over a year because I let self doubt win, over. and. over.  ALL THE DOUBT.  And none of the confidence. But this day I took a chance.  It may have not panned out.  But darn it I sure tried and will continue to do so.  #chefwannabe My life will be forever changed because I took this chance…

A reminder of a day where I chased my dreams full force.
A reminder of a day where I chased my dreams full force.

Lastly there’s this little fella…this dog, this FRIEND who hasn’t left my side in years.  True love right here.

My little prince, who's now 7 years old, but still a puppy in my eyes and heart.
My little prince, who’s now 7 years old, but still a puppy in my eyes and heart.

My point to this post, is to hang on to the things you love dearly.  I lost a friend from high school yesterday, without warning, and I am again reminded how short life really is.  So these are just a few of my favorite things that have touched my heart this week.

What keeps you going?  Do you have pets?  Have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately?

Keep Movin’ forward, gang!

 

❤ Michelle