VERSATILE MARINARA

2-3 Tbl olive oil
1 medium onion diced
2-3 cloves garlic minced or pressed
3-4 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cans tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
2 tsp sugar
2-3 tsp salt (I usually use about 2 1/2 and add more if needed)
1/4 tsp ground pepper
water to thin and make perfect

 Add oil to a 12" skillet or pot, add diced onions cook until translucent. Turn down heat and add garlic. Next, add Italian seasoning. Warming it in the olive oil will wake up the flavors. Add 2 cans of tomatoes. You can use diced or crushed. I even like the italian stewed for this recipe. Mix it up and see what you like. If you want to substitute fresh tomatoes I have found about 3 tomatoes equal 1 can. Add tomato paste not sauce. Stir this together, sauce will be thick. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Now thin with water to the consistency you prefer for your recipe.  Start slow and add don't go crazy all at once. I will often use the small can of tomato paste to add my water. A little more for a sauce over pasta, a little less for lasagna or meatball sandwiches.  It will need to simmer for 1 hour on a very low heat if you are using it for a pasta sauce. If you want lasagna or meatball sandwiches it will have time to simmer as the lasagna cooks or with the meatballs in the crock pot.

Meat Sauce

If I want a meat sauce, I really like this with Italian seasoned ground turkey and Italian seasoned sausage, about 1/2 lb each. Brown and drain fat before adding onion and garlic. Can be done with lean ground beef as well.

Love, love, love this for lasagna. 

Lasagna

It makes one 9x13 casserole dish. It takes nine cooked lasagna noodles three lasagna noodles across with three layers. Start with a little sauce on the bottom, layer three cooked noodles side by side and cover again with sauce. Next layer three more noodles across the sauce and add a cheesy layer (directions will follow). Top with three more lasagna noodles and with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with about 2 cups part-skim low moisture mozzerella and a little parmesan cheese or romano if you have it. Cover and bake 40-50 minutes @ 350. Remove foil and allow to cook 5 minutes more to brown the top layer.  Allow to cool 10 minutes, this will help to cut and serve if you give it time to set up.
Cheesy layer
1 cup  low fat ricotta
1 cup  low fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzerella
3 tsp italian seasoning
1 egg
Stir to combine and use as second layer in lasagna

*Garnish finished lasagna with ribbons of fresh basil.

Meatball Sandwiches

For this I make the sauce and add it to a crock pot. Add prepared meatballs to the sauce. (If you want to control the fat and salt content you can make your own meatballs and add them. They need to be partially precooked) If you are looking for a meal to have ready after a busy day with easy prep Costco Italian Meatballs work great in a pinch. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. If meatballs are completely cooked it can been done in about 2 hours.

Now all you need is some good rolls and provolone cheese. Sometimes we toast the bread and melt the cheese with the oven broiler but,
sometimes we don't. How would you do it?

Are you a fan of grilled onion and mushrooms? They make a great addition to this recipe.