Sauces
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Green Tomato Chutney
Whether we break down the garden in late August or late October, I find that it means lots of green tomatoes. Tasty as they are, one batch of fried green tomatoes is about our limit! For a while, what to do with the rest of those wonderful green tomatoes was a puzzle....
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Old Fashioned Mac and Cheese
Sometimes there is nothing that can soothe your soul like a hot dish of homemade macaroni and cheese. It's not surprising that people have come up with thousands of variations on this popular dish. (Certainly, there is room for all kinds of delicious mac and cheese...
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Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce
This is a favorite weeknight meal at our house! If you already have Jim's Italian Sausage and Sicilian Tomato Sauce on hand, it is quite easy to put together and goes a long way (two nights for us). You can certainly get a very tasty result with your favorite sausage...
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Jim’s Italian Sausage
Jim's Italian Sausage is so versatile and handy to have around! This recipe makes about 5 pounds of sausage, most of which we freeze in smaller amounts for later use. A couple of our favorite recipes are Italian Sausage Manicotti and Mom's Spaghetti Sauce. Also, you...
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Pork Scallopini with Marsala Mushroom Gravy
This is a hearty, flavorful dish that offers the satisfaction of comfort food without packing on a ton of fat and calories. We like to serve it with "Kluski" noodles or spaetzle (when we have time to make them). Add a vegetable or salad side, and you have a...
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Porcini Mushroom Pasta Sauce
Porcini mushrooms have a wonderful, rich and earthy flavor that turns this simple creamy sauce into something really special. Above it is pictured with cheese ravioli that came in the refrigerator case at the grocery store. This combination offers a quick and easy,...
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Homemade Salsa
One of our favorite summer indulgences – when we have lots of fresh, ripe tomatoes in our garden – is to make homemade salsa. We find it is tastiest straight from the bowl we mix it in. Even after refrigeration, it is far superior to any store-bought, jarred version....
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Chicken Lasagna
This is one of our favorite make ahead meals. It heats great from frozen and the investment of one afternoon yields at least four meals. For our small family, it's more like 8. Sometimes, for Sunday dinner with Gogo and Papa, one 8" x 8" pan serves 4 adults and 1 kid...
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Smokey Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parmesan can be a little bit blah, but using Smokey Tomato Sauce really steps up the flavor, offering a unique twist on an old classic. If you have the sauce already on hand, this comes together fairly easily and, when frozen, is a super easy weeknight meal....
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Smokey Tomato Sauce
We make this sauce in August when we have more tomatoes than we know what to do with. We love the "hearty without meat" flavor it brings to a wide variety of dishes. Another plus: it maintains it's unique, smokey flavor through the canning process. In our version of...
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Basil Pesto
This pesto recipe is very versatile. It is pictured here with Cavatappi pasta, cherry tomatoes and some fresh mozzarella. We like to make lots of pesto in the summer when fresh basil is readily available and freeze it for use throughout the year. Having pesto on hand...
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Italian Sausage and Cheese (Not) Stuffed Manicotti
These "not stuffed" manicotti may be a little easier to make than the traditional filled pasta tubes we're used to, but this recipe still requires an investment of time. Luckily, once you are committed, you might as well make enough for the future. Recruit the family...
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Basic Tomato Sauce
When you need a fresh-tasting tomato sauce, but don't have all day to make it, this basic recipe is a great option. Fresh carrots, celery, onion and garlic all brighten – and deepen – the flavor of the canned tomatoes. Perfect served simply over pasta and also ideal...
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The Day After The Day After Thanksgiving Panini
This turkey panini puts a new twist on the leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich. The cranberry relish adds a nice sweet, tartness while the melty fontina cheese offers richness and flavor variation. Ingredients for After Thanksgiving Turkey Panini Leftover turkey...
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McGuire Cranberry Relish
This fresh cranberry relish is very easy and always on our Thanksgiving table. We like to make extra and can it for the rest of the season. Put a bow on a jar of cranberry relish for a nice holiday party hostess gift. Ingredients for McGuire Cranberry Relish 1 quart...
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French Bread Pizza
I try to keep a loaf of French bread from the store in my freezer for those nights when real cooking is just not going to happen. Making these can be a no brainer when my brain is finished! You really only need three ingredients to make it work, but many additional...
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Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce
Using refrigerated or frozen tortellini and homemade sauce that was canned in the summer offers a quick option for a fresh tasting, healthy meal. In a pinch, use your favorite store-bought tomato sauce. Ingredients for Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce 1 clove...
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Sicilian Tomato Sauce
I'll put it to you straight: this is NOT a fast recipe. However, it is beyond worth the time to make and save for quick meals in the future. It is delicious, versatile and best of all, you know what's in it. (Many commercial tomato sauces have as much as 16 teaspoons...
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Cream Sauce with Shallots and Thyme
This sauce is great with any meat. It holds up well in the slow cooker with meatballs, but is also delicious with pork scallopini or sautéed chicken breasts. Ingredients for Cream Sauce with Shallots and Thyme 3 T butter 3 T flour 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 1/4 C...
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