Simple Tomato Sauce

Recipe by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• Sea salt and ground black pepper
• 2 large cans crushed tomatoes
• 4-6 fresh basil leaves
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 4 T unsalted butter, optional

Directions:

1. In large dutch over or casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat.
2. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes
3. Add celery and carrots, season with salt and pepper and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick.
5. Remove the bay leaves and check seasoning.
6. If sauce tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, a tablespoon at a time to round out flavors.
7. Add half of the sauce to a food processor and process until smooth.  Combine with remaining sauce.

Chicken Parmesan

Recipe by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:

• 3 T olive oil
• 1 t chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 t chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 t chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 chicken cutlets, about 3-ounces each
• 1 1/2 c Simple Tomato Sauce or purchased marinara sauce
• 1/2 c shredded mozzarella
• 5-6 T grated Parmesan
• 2 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F
2. Stir oil and fresh herbs in small bowl to blend; season with salt and pepper
3. Brush both sides of cutlets with herb oil
4. Heat large heavy oven proof skillet over high heat. Add cutlets and cook just until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove skillet from heat.
5. Spoon the marinara sauce over and around cutlets. Sprinkle each cutlet with mozzarella and Parmesan. Dot each cutlet with butter.
6. Bake 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese melts and chicken is cooked through

Super Sloppy Joes

Recipe by Rachel Ray

Ingredients:

• 1 T olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 2-3 t steak seasoning blend
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 red bell pepper chopped
• 1 T red wine vinegar
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 2 c tomato sauce
• 2 T tomato paste
• Crusty rolls, split, toasted and lightly buttered
• Optional garnishes: sliced tomatoes, pickles, potato salad

Directions:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil and ground beef and begin to break up beef.
2. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning.  Add to skillet and combine.
3. When meat is browned, add onion and red peppers to skillet; reduce heat to medium.
4. Add red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to meat mixture and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste; reduce heat to simmer for 5 more minutes.