Moms American Spaghetti Recipes

MOM'S BEST SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix together whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, mushrooms, onions, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper, basil, and 1 pinch of baking soda in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce to a simmer, and cook for 4 hours minimum.
• Stir in another pinch of baking soda; the sauce will foam. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and almost brown. Make sure to scrape the sides of the pan in to the sauce.
• After the sauce is fork consistency, stir in Parmesan cheese. Watch that the cheese does not burn. Taste sauce. If it is too tangy or acidic, add another pinch of baking soda and simmer another 1/2 hour.
• Cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight. The next day, reheat and serve.

MOM'S SWEET SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook onion and bell pepper in oil until transparent. Add beef to onions and peppers; cook until brown. Set aside.
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Reserve drippings and crumble bacon. Combine drippings and crumbled bacon with the beef mixture.
• Add mushrooms, tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic powder and oregano. Pour in wine while stirring. Stir in sugar, then salt and pepper. Cook until hot.

MOM'S IRISH-AMERICAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH SAUSAGE AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Brown all but 3 of the sausages in olive oil in a big pot on the stove.
• Turn down heat and add onion and garlic. Saute till just translucent.
• Add tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar. Season with oregano, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper. Let simmer.
• Meanwhile, into a large bowl, squeeze the remaining 3 sausages out of their casings.
• Add mince, breadcrumbs, herbs and salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands (rubber gloves work great!). Use the palms of your hands to firmly form golf ball-sized meatballs (I got 12 out of this mixture).
• When the sauce is piping hot, and the sausages are cooked through (about 40 minutes), throw meatballs into the sauce and let cook for another 30-40 minutes.
• If you want to let the sauce and sausages simmer longer, feel free. But don't throw in the meatballs till 40 minutes before the end.
• Serve over spaghetti or use to make lasagna.

MOM'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut celery and onion (and bell pepper if used) as fine as you prefer.
• If you like chunky style sauce make the pieces bigger, I like mine chopped fairly small.
• In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tblspn of oil, when oil is hot (not smoking) add celery and stirfry.
• As celery begins to clarify, add onion (and bell pepper, if used) and stirfry until it begins to glaze, add chopped garlic, stir for a short time (don't let anything begin to brown).
• If using meat, add ground beef or stew beef and brown, stirring regularly, adjust heat to make sure nothing burns.
• Salt and black pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a larger pot (if you have a good sized pot that you can brown in, you can just start with that instead of using the skillet.).
• Stir in tomato paste and cook until the color darkens.
• Stir in tomatos and tomato sauce.
• Add spices (Italian seasoning or individual spices) to taste.
• Add 3 Bay Leaves.
• Stir in mushrooms and/or black olives and crushed red pepper, if desired.
• Stir in 1-2 cans of water (I use the tomato paste, tomato and tomato paste cans to get the leavings out of them.).
• Adjust heat to simmer.
• Let cook for at least 1 hour, longer if you can, and stir regularly.
• Check spice to taste and add what you want.
• You can cook this for a little while or for a longer time.
• I prefer at least 2 hours to give all the spices a chance to blend well.
• But it can be cooked for as little as a half hour.
• If you want it to cook for a long time, monitor the thickness and add water as needed.
• Don't forget to remove the Bay Leaves before serving.
• Some people like to add a pinch of sugar to cut the acidity, but I believe that the Bay Leaves accomplish this and have never used sugar.
• When done, serve over or mix with the cooked pasta of your choice.
• Add grated parmissan if desired.
• Also individuals can add crushed red pepper to their own servings, for those who like it a little spicier.
• If making a baked dish such as Lasagna, Ziti, etc.
• you may want to make the sauce a little thinner (add water) to start with.