Bye Bye Bye Cheater Sauce

Simple Easy Meat sauce 

To say I was fashionably late in finding my passion for food is an understatement. I think if Pinterest would have been around back in my day I would have been a more rounded momma... (For real, I have chubby cheeks on both sides now proving this so! *smile*)

My passion thing just sorta happened. I guess the saying 'you eat with your eyes first' really is true! And it's really odd how this happened as well. I wasn't new to Pinterest anymore but I had used it primarily for various DIY projects; not cooking. Cooking was an interruption. A chore. Then I saw a homemade French bread recipe on a day I was hoping to create some extra spark with the hubs after his long day. (it worked, btw!)

Some history for ya... When my littles were little, one of them informed me my spaghetti was made with cheater sauce. Hmmm, cheater sauce... really now... Hmph, the lil brat  was right & I was okay with that until I found the french bread recipe. In my mind, if I was going to make bread, then I needed to make my sauce too! (Remember mission was SPARKS..) xoxo

So, after reading more sauce recipes than I could remember, I decided to simply try & wing it on my own. Using what I had in the pantry the following was created:

• Lg Can of crushed tomatoes, (Have since tried whole peeled tomatoes in the processor which provided a more in-depth tomato flavor)
• 1 Tbls Italian seasonings, (I have been known to use fresh basil & oregano alone and/or combined but the blend has a few additional herbs that I don't grow.)
• 1 lb Hamburger meat brown and drained, (I have also blended hamburger with italian sausage or just used sausage.)
• 3 Tbls garlic,
• 1/2 sweet onion (diced),
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 Tbls EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• can of sliced mushrooms, drained

I browned my hamburger meat, drained off the fat and removed. Heat up the EVOO until it's shimmering then added the onion and cooked until translucent. Add garlic, stir it in just until you smell a toasty aroma. Stir in herbs & canned tomatoes, mix and let simmer for 10 minutes before adding meat, mushrooms and salt/pepper. NOTE: it's gonna splatter! I recommend a splatter guard or lid to deflect the lil drops of sauce, definitely.



I let it simmer for about 30 minutes after adding the meat just so the flavors blend. Cook your pasta of choice  per directions (we prefer Angel Hair) & top with this divine meat sauce followed up with some grated Parmesan!


I was very pleased with myself, the results, and the reception received from the hubs was the final seal of approval! XoXo

But, back to this versatile & very easy sauce... This can be tweaked as needed for your personal taste buds! Easily incorporate spice mixtures or meat variations as you deem worthy... This is just a basic go to. It can be dressed up or dressed down to pair with any pasta.

I'm sure most of you already have a trusted go-to. I just wanted to share mine as I've finally said Bye Bye Bye to 'cheater sauce' (aka spaghetti sauce in a can or jar)! BTW, there is nothing wrong with cheater sauce; my brat loved it but also loves to poke the bear!  ;)

Do you have a favorite sauce? A favorite dish? Let me know, I'm always looking for inspiration from other home cooks!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Baked Thin Pork Chops & More

Baked Thin Pork Chops

Well Hello there! I hope your ready for a beautiful & tasty recipe that is so exceptionally easy to make & easy on the pocket! Double Whammy! Minimal ingredients plus minimal work equals a delish dinner on the table in less than hour.

I discovered this in my fave online app. Ah Haha, You know it too ~ Pinterest! Scrumptious ideas created and shared by culinary lovelies everywhere! Yuummm! But hey, let me stay on track here and get back to DINNER!

The original version belongs to Vicki over at Avocado Pesto; you really should check her out! This recipe is a family tradition passed down a few generations, from her mother & grandmother! And she has gluten free suggestions folks! 

Time tested! Taste tested! And now, MY family 100% approved! 

There are only four - repeat 1-2-3-4 ingredients. You seriously can not go wrong making this. Thin pork chops topped with mayo, onion and cheddar cheese come together deliciously. Baked @ 350. Effortless never tasted so good!

Here are my thin breakfast chops. She is adamant to use thin pork chops, "The thinner the better". This sparked a happy dance on my end as while shopping I mistakenly picked up breakfast cut chops!

Did you know there was a difference between Thin cut and Breakfast cut?

Well, Welcome me to the !land of Duh



As instructed, even though these are super duper thin, I still tenderized with a meat hammer.

In the above snap, the breakfast cut chops are seasoned with salt, pepper and sprinkled with dehydrated minced onion. (Did you cringe while reading that?) Usually, I have onions EXCEPT of course last night. And ordinarily, I wouldn't use minced dehydrated onion but it worked in a pinch.

Not to mention it kept this lazy girl from a road trip to the store. (Yay)

Okay, confession time... I kinda panicked seeing how thin these exactly were. You know that feeling of "Oh Shit, there isn't enough for everybody feeling"? Ya, decided last-minute to make a couple of sides just to be safe.

Better to have too much than not enough, right?

And wouldn't you know it, my multi-tasking skills were so off yesterday there is only one single picture of the *bonus* recipes which happens to be my plate! Gotta work on that picture thing! LOL! But you can see more pics in the referring links below; no worries.

Feast your eyes! Simple home comfort! Thin baked cheesy & juicy pork chops, left-over cornbread sage dressing w/ gravy, Parmesan peas, french onion rice accompanied with brown n serve dinner rolls! I'd say I had nothing to be worried about in the quantity department too!



BTW, These turned out amazing! Both *bonus* recipes turned out fantastic too! Both were Capital 'E' Easy & made with basic pantry staples. Whip up these sides in a frenzy for unexpected dinner guests to ensure you have plenty to go around!

French Onion Rice by Seduction in the Kitchen & Parmesan Peas by Ezra Pound Cake. Each are extraordinarily talented and have provided me with much inspiration on multiple occasions!

Hope you enjoy!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!