Fresh And Easy Pasta Sauce™

Need an easy recipe for Lent, try this.

2 - 3 c. fresh or canned chopped tomatoes
1 c. each: chopped, onion, bell pepper
1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper
2 - 3 cloves fresh garlic chopped
3 - 4 T. olive oil
1 tsp. each: basil, parsley, oregano
Pinch each: red pepper flakes, turmeric
1 oz. white wine or vermouth (optional)

Rinse, peel, chop garlic, onion.

Rinse, seed and chop pepper.

Rinse and chop tomatoes.

Rinse and chop fresh herbs if needed.

Heat skillet to medium high heat, lower heat  to medium, add oil.

Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, onions, and bell peppers and cook for 10 min stirring occasionally. 

While cooking, break up tomatoes with a wooden or plastic cooking spoon if needed.

Lower heat add remaining ingredients and cook for 10 minutes more until heated.

Serve over your favorite pasta.

Serves 4.

A Mid Winters Roast™

This is perfect for winter or anytime.

2 - 4 lb beef roast
1/8 -1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper
1 - 2 cloves fresh garlic crushed, chopped
1/4 c each: dry vermouth, water
1/8 c olive oil
1 large onion peeled and quartered
30 - 40 baby carrots

Preheat oven to 350 F'.

Peel, rinse, quarter onions.

Peel, crush and chop garlic.

Remove roast from refrigerator and place in a roasting pan. Pour some of the vermouth and oil over roast.

Make some tiny slits all over roast. Stuff slits with garlic.

Sprinkle half of the seasonings over roast.

Turn roast over. Pour some of the vermouth, oil over other side of roast. Repeat prior process with garlic and seasonings.

Pour water in bottom of pan.

Add carrots and onions to pan. Place pan in oven and cook for 1 - 2 hrs . approx or until desired doneness. 

Remove roast from oven and cover with the foil to keep warm. Let rest for a few minutes before carving.

Serves 4 - 6 approx.

Night Cap

This is great if you have a hard time sleeping or anytime. I've used rum, but you can also use brandy or whiskey if preferred.

4 c. reduced fat milk
1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: cinnamon, nutmeg,
4 oz.  rum

In a microwave safe measuring cup, pour milk. Add spices and place in microwave. 

Microwave on high for 40 - 90 sec.

In the bottom of coffee mugs pour rum.

Remove milk from microwave and pour milk over the rum. Mix well with a spoon.

Serves 4.

Sweet Yet Savory Thai Chicken Wings™

This is a great recipe for game day or anytime.

2 lb. Chicken wings or drumettes (16 - 20 wings)
1 - 2 cloves garlic, crushed chopped
1/8 tsp. fresh ginger root
pinch of each:  turmeric, red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper
1 lime juiced, zested
1/4 c. low sodium soy sauce
1/8 c. each: oil, honey
Non stick cooking spray
1 - 2 T. sesame seeds (optional)

Zest and juice lime.

Peel, rinse and chop garlic.

Rinse and chop ginger root.

In a jar combine: oil, soy sauce, ginger root, honey, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, spices. Put lid on jar and shake well to mix  20 - 40 sec.

Place wings in a bowl.

Remove lid from jar and pour over chicken. Toss to coat, place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400' F.

Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. Spray cooking spray on baking sheets.

Arrange wings on baking sheet. Pour half of the leftover marinade over 1 side of wings. Flip wings over and repeat process with the remainder of marinade.

Sprinkle sesame seeds over wings and place in oven to cook for 30 - 40 min.

Halfway through cooking flip wings over and sprinkle seeds on other side. Cook for 15 - 20 min. more or until done.

Keep an eye on them so that they don't burn.

Remove from oven, let them rest for a few minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Serves 4 (4 - 5 wings each).