RECIPE: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (RAGU COPYCAT)

Remember a few weeks back when I posted about the Braised Beef & Tortellini (Olive Garden's Copycat recipe) I found. If you don't remember, check it out HERE.

Well ever since I have been on the hunt for recipes of stuff we LOVE that I can make homemade. Well spaghetti sauce is something I use all the time. I have several recipes that call for it, as well as I use it as pizza sauce in a bind. Our family has always been more fond of Ragu then any other.

So I went on a little Google search and found this recipe. 

I did tweak it a bit, but I have to say, my family couldn't even tell the difference. It tasted so much like Ragu, it wasn't until after we were done eating that I let them know I made it homemade. (they were definitely surprised!)

Now this gives me such a warm & cozy feeling inside, knowing full well, each & every ingredient that we are eating. And with all the stuff they put in things these days, I will definitely be looking for more homemade alternatives in the future. I will try and keep you guys updated on all the WONDERFUL recipes I find.

Photo Credit

Sorry I forgot to take a photo of it,

so I used this one from Flickr. :)

So without further ado, the recipe (which I tweaked a bit):

COPYCAT RAGU TOMATO SAUCE

29 oz can of tomato sauce

14.5 oz can of Canned Italian Diced Tomatoes

4 oz can of sliced mushrooms

5 teas of granulated sugar

1 Tbls of olive oil

1 Tbls. each of grated Parmesan & Romano cheese.

1 teas of dried basil

1/2 teas of dried parsley

3 medium garlic cloves chopped fine

1/8 teas of black pepper

1 bay leaf

In a sauce pan combine all ingredients & simmer for 20 minutes. *Simmer on a very very low flame otherwise you will scorch your pot. Simmer uncovered or partially uncovered to help it reach the desired thickness. When stirring, do not use a aluminum spoon, use a wooden spoon.

Optional:

Add just short of a 1/4 cup finely chopped onion (I did!)

1/2 pound browned hamburger/turkey burger

(I made a half of batch with meat & half without as my kiddos don't like meat in the sauce)

Enjoy!!!

Makes 3 cups of sauce

RECIPE: Thai Noodles

The past few weeks, well really since the beginning of the year, I have been on the hunt for some really GOOD family meal ideas/recipes. Stuff that I can make that is more of a "homemade" version of stuff we love. I have been saving them in a folder and the past few weeks have been able to try a few out. This one we tried last night as a family and it was a home run!!!!!
Now, you have to remember, that my husband, is VERY HARD to impress. He doesn't usually like to try new recipes.

And my oldest, is SUPER PICKY!!!!

So when I say I hit a home run, that is a H~U~G~E accomplishment for me!!!! :)

They all seriously, couldn't get enough!

I came across this recipe from over at Noodlehead.

Go check her out HERE!

It is a great blog and she has a ton of cool ideas, and GREAT tutorials.

So here is where I got the RECIPE!

What I LOVED about it is that most of these items I already had on hand or are things that I buy all the time. This is HUGE for me as I hate recipes I have to buy "special" ingredients for.

The only thing I changed is I added some steamed broccoli to the mix, as 3 out of the 4 of us LOVE brocolli (my oldest again is the one that doesn't).

And I didn't use as much of the red pepper flakes. My hubby is the only one in the family that like spicey.

I HIGHLY reccommend you try it tonight & let me know what you think!

Enjoy!!!