November 5, 2008

Randomness and A Recipe

I don’t discuss politics very often, usually only with my husband and then he can talk tables around me. I don’t follow it like he does. I have my views and opinions and you have yours. That is what is makes this country GREAT!

I must say though, yesterday was absolutely amazing to me. Even in our small town I have never seen such a turn out for voting. Usually I am one of maybe a dozen people at the polls – that includes the judges. When I went to vote yesterday there were people all over, some precincts had long lines. People in wheelchairs, on walkers, young people, and older Americans were all there to vote. It made me smile. No matter which candidate was your candidate it was a historic event. One day when our grandchildren ask about it we will all be able to say we witnessed and were part of a historical event. What a concept!


After voting I went to see The Secret Life of Bees. I read the book when it first came out and loved it. I heard the movie was good, but I wasn't holding out much hope. To me movies are never as good as the book. This one - OUTSTANDING! I really enjoyed it. I cried. Not just a few tears. Yes, that's right - full blown ugly cry. Dakota Fanning is amazing. Queen Latifah is too!

The cold war still rages on at our house. Thankfully it has been up in the 70’s since last Saturday, so the house is warm. We’ll see what happens when it gets cold again.

I really HATE winter laundry. I usually do laundry on Sundays. I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why I had so much more laundry than usual last Sunday. I was still working on it on Monday. It is because of all the sweatshirts and extra clothes. It’s back to Wednesday and Sunday laundry for me. That’s the only way I don’t have to spend the entire Sunday in the laundry room. Ick!

For the first time in six years BB and I have decided to go back to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Two of my brothers are still there and we are going to go visit them for the long weekend. I can’t wait!!

BB was supposed to tell his mom. On the phone the other night she asked me what I wanted to make for Thanksgiving. It was a quiet moment after I finally told her that we wouldn’t be there. Why does he always do this to me? Now I am the bad guy. Moving on...


Several of you have asked for the sauce recipe. To be honest there isn’t really a recipe. When I cook, not when I bake, but when I cook I have a habit of looking at several recipes and then taking what I like from each recipe and making my own. For the sauce recipe I just have a list of ingredients that I complied from about half a dozen other recipes. Here’s what I do:

Sauce

Olive oil
2 large onions
Carrots
Green peppers
Large package of fresh button mushrooms
Garlic (10 cloves chopped fine) Sometimes more or less it depends on the garlic.
2 28oz cans whole tomatoes
2 14oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 14oz can tomato paste
2 cups water (I just fill the tomato paste can with water twice)
Italian parsley
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
3 Bay leaves
Cubano pepper or red pepper flakes (I guess about a little more than a teaspoon)
Fresh Basil

I dice up the onions and then I dice up as many carrots and green peppers to equal the amount of onions. I usually end up with a bit more than two cups of each vegetable.

Olive oil – I guess about 4 tablespoons, again I don’t measure. It depends on how many vegetables.

Sauté the onions, green peppers, and carrots until the onions and carrots are soft. Add the mushrooms and garlic – simmer until the mushrooms are soft. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. I squish up the whole tomatoes as I add them and I take out the stem end. I was told a long time ago they could make your sauce bitter. Add the water.

I add the salt, both peppers, and bay leaves. Let it all simmer for a while. If after simmering the sauce tastes bitter I may add a little sugar to cut the acid of the tomatoes. NOT MUCH! Maybe two tablespoons.

Chop up the Italian parsley and add that. Simmer until the sauce thickens.
Chop up a large hunk of basil. Add that last.
Let everything simmer a little longer. Then I remove the bay leaves. I use a hand blender to chop up all of the veggies to make a smooth marinara.



Whew! I didn’t mean for this to be so long. I better stop for now. :)

11 comments:

  1. Your getting long winded over here! You go girl.

    I'll talk politics with you, what would you like to say. ;0)

    I heard that movie was cute.

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  2. I agree, the turn out for this amazing - historic election was a sight to see.

    I cook the same way - I love to look at cookbooks and tend to pull ideas from here and there.

    Great post!

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  3. The turn-out in our area was absolutely amazing, especially in the next county over (where the Tongginator attends school). It is the wealthiest predominantly African-American county in the nation. Boy did they vote! The lines snaked around buildings and into the parking lots and even into the streets as people waited in their cars for a parking spot.

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  4. We also had lines like I have never seen....it was amazing!

    That sauce recipe looks fantastic...I will be trying it!!

    I had wondered if the war was still going on....lucky for you the weather has been nice:)

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  5. I can't believe you're still holding out on the heat?!!! You guys are hilarious!

    I want to see that movie... now I want to go even more desperately!!!

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  6. I was moved yesterday by all of it. The voter turn out, the speeches, the historical significance. Truly a day to remember no matter who you voted for.

    I want to see that movie, too. It looks like a real tear jerker.

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  7. OK..I have not seen a movie in ages. Methinks I should treat my dingledork self this weekend! I have heard that flick is fabulous from a blue million of my patients.

    Yes, the vote was an amazing thing this time. I always have interesting election days though ;0)

    You two are both a couple of stubborn ones holding out on the cold war. It is only delayed by the current balmy weather...hmmm....who shall emerge victorious?

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  8. Your sauce sounds YUMMMY, I'm printing a copy. Yes last night was amazing any way you looked at it. Sorry about the laundry.

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  9. Tuesday was such a great day! Even here in the Great White North some people were holding election parties and it was the talk of the office yesterday.

    Heh...laugh about your 'cold war' comment and I think of you often. It's been amazingly warm here too and I've had my heat turned off for over a week. Everytime I think about it I think of you...and smile! Love you friend.

    Have a great week!

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  10. Girl,
    I'm sorry that I missed you on the Sat Chat, I went to the ladies room and came back and everyone was gone :)
    I'm still on if you are on-line.

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  11. I am glad you have so much to post about! I am in a dry spell! haha

    I think you are very wise!!!

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