Alone

It's Friday night! Anyone have fun plans? I have to live vicariously through you since I don't leave the house. EVER. Not true of course, but sometimes it feels like it!

The girls are sleeping (HOORAY! Miracle, you have no idea), the hubby is out with friends and I am hanging out at home. Alone.

It's nice! Yes, I have a million projects to do, but I am also going to relax, watch some Doctor Who, knit, and enjoy the peace and quiet. Today was loud and stressful so it's a great way to end!

Oh, yeah. And I need to clean. ASAP. I'll share a pic tomorrow (because I'm feeling lazy now) of just how bad my kitchen is right now. I didn't wash any dishes today, and now the sink (and beside it) are piled ridiculously high. There are no clean forks, spoons or knives in the drawer. I did dishes yesterday!!! What's the deal??? I'm convinced I have an evil imp who comes out when I'm not looking to dirty dishes.

Speaking of evil imps, we have a chipmunk living in our walls. He climbed in through the hole around the outdoor AC unit and is making himself quite at home. Every once and a while he makes his presence known by scurrying through the walls and making THIS sound. FREAKS ME OUT!!!

Just played that video, and the walls are now echoing me. EEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!!

Freakiest part of having a chipmunk? Took a bubble bath earlier in the week. My back is killing me this week and I thought the hot water would relax me. HA! Well, it did. Until, Mr. Chipmunk (Haven't named him yet, ideas? Alvin and Theodore were just too obvious) ran through the wall behind the bath tub, and then went under the bath tub. AND BUMPED UNDER MY BACKSIDE. I jumped a mile. Screamed. Threw my back out too. Now I'm paranoid about taking another bath. Sad, because I have a new book and a new bath salt to try out.

Anyone know the best way to rid a house of a chipmunk you can't get to?

Food Cravings

Have you ever picked up a book and after reading a while developed food cravings?

This happens frequently to me. Last week I read three books in a row that mentioned pie. It made me want pie. Did I get pie? No. Too much trouble. I made muffins and pretended it was pie. Today I started a book set in Italy. So of course, as soon as the Italian Mama made family dinner I was drooling for pasta sauce.

This began my afternoon of cooking adventures.

Homemade Red Pasta Sauce. Greek Yogurt (I started this yesterday, but it just finished straining) Granola. Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Life is good. Because it's good and I love you and it's Friday, (YAY FRIDAY!) here is the recipe for super tasty Pasta Sauce. It has been heartily approved by my very picky Italian husband. =) The best part about this recipe? It feeds a ton of people. With enough leftovers to freeze. Make the pot, freeze half and you have any easy dinner later on after a rough day. Aren't I brilliant?

Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients needed: onion, garlic, oregano, basil, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and ground beef. Not shown: sugar, water and olive oil.

First, chop one medium sized onion. Like so...

Also chop the garlic. 12 cloves of them. Not the little cloves, either.

Now, in a huge pot heat 3 TBS olive oil. Add in the onion and saute. Then add the garlic!

Warning: this will smell divine.
Add the ground beef and brown. Note that you can use thin sliced steak instead of the beef. That's the preferred around here, but I was out and used what I had on hand.

When the meat is browned, add 1 TBS each of oregano and basil. 1tsp cayenne, salt and pepper.

Once fragrant, add the tomatoes and tomato paste!!!

Stir the ingredients together and add 12-24 oz water. Also add 2 more TBS dried basil and oregano and the bay leaves. 3 of them.

Uncovered, bring to a boil over high heat. After boiling 15 minutes, lower heat. Simmer 1 hour covered, stirring occasionally. Taste. Add sugar to cut the acid. Add any more seasonings to taste. Simmer another 45 minutes. Turn off heat. Eat and enjoy!

Recipe:

1 medium onion, chopped
12 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBS olive oil
2 lbs ground beef (or thin sliced steak cut into bite sized pieces)
3 TBS dried basil, divided
3 TBS dried oregano, divided
1 tsp cayenne pepper (more to taste--I usually add another tsp at the end)
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp ground black pepper
4 cans (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
4 cans (6 oz) tomato paste
3 large bay leaves
1/4 cup sugar

In a large pot, heat the oil over med-high heat. Add the onions and cook to soft, adding in the garlic. Cook until just barely beginning to brown. Stir in the beef. Brown. Once browned, mix in 1 TBS oregano and 1 TBS basil, cayenne, salt and pepper. Carefully, pour in the tomatoes, both crushed and paste. Add remaining spices.
Bring to a boil, uncovered. Allow to boil 15 minutes, then lower heat and cover. Simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar and taste. If desired, add any more seasonings to taste. Simmer another 45 minutes. Take off the heat and enjoy!
Serve over pasta, or whatever you fancy. I love to make veggie lasagna with this!
Serves plenty. ;-)

My favourite way to taste test this is ladle out a small serving and dip crusty bread into it. Fantastic snack.
Enjoy my friends!!!