Traditional Italian Sauce

Cooperstown, NY

Tonight, I'm craving some traditional Scerra family home cooking. We actually have (thanks to the aunts), a Scerra Family Cookbook!! What a treasured gift this was.... Even though there are hardly any specific measurements.....


That's what Italian cooking is all about. Add garlic, taste. Add basil, taste. Add cheese, taste. Continue to season if necessary. 


Life should be the same way.... Re-evaluate along the way. Add a little spice here and there as needed. Continue to re-assess. 


Here are 3 ways to make Italian sauce. Enjoy and Mangia!!!!



Tomato Sauce (for Pasta Fasole)   
serves approx 6 adults


2  16 oz cans crushed tomatoes (DeCecco)
small onion
oil
garlic (optional)
Parmesan cheese
basil
sugar
2  12 oz cans beans or peas

Saute onion and garlic in a little oil till lightly brown. 
Add crushed tomatoes and 1 can water.  Cook approximately 15 minutes.  Flavor with parmesan cheese, basil, and a little sugar.

Add Great Northern Beans, OR white kidney beans (cappelinni beans), OR green peas, OR chickpeas (garbanzo beans/cecci beans).

Cook about 30 minutes. 

Serve over elbow macaroni, small shells, or ditalini.

Freeze leftovers.


Sauce for Macaroni ("Pasta")

1  16 oz can crushed tomatoes (DeCecco)
1  16 oz can tomato puree
2 or 3 pork spare ribs
medium onion
garlic clove
oil

In a medium size sauce pan, saute onion in a little oil.  Add garlic (be careful, garlic burns very easily).  Add your pieces of pork and brown.

Add each can of your tomatoes plus 1 can of water.  Cook over low heat.

The following can be added for flavor:  2 tsp sugar, grated Parmesan cheese, parley or fresh basil.


Marinara Sauce (or as Mama would call it, "Fast Sauce")

1 can whole tomatoes
1 small onion
1 garlic clove
oil

In a small saucepan, suate onion and garlic in a little oil.  Cook slowly - make sure they do NOT burn.

In a medium size bowl, "squeeze" your tomatoes with your CLEAN hands.

Add squeezed tomatoes with their juice to saucepan.  Add a little sugar, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Cook over low/medium heat for 45 minutes.