A Few of My Favorite Sauces

One of my favorite things to do is create a pasta sauce with whatever is laying around. Whether it be a smooth marinara, a creamy alfredo, or roasted tomatoes and onions, a homemade sauce will soothe the soul and fill the belly. Here is a list of just a few of my favorite sauces, but be creative! Add your own spin and use up what you have. most importantly, have fun! Now is the time to get creative. (Sauce to cover about 8 oz. pasta)

CAN I CALL IT ALFREDO?

3 tbsp. butter
4 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/3 c. parmesan cheese
Crushed Red Pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt, Pepper

Cook pasta al dente in heavily salted water. Melt butter in pan and brown for 2-3 minutes, and add garlic, cooking until fragrant. Add pasta to pan. Pour in heavy whipping cream, parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper, and plenty of salt. Simmer until thickens, and add lots of pepper and lemon juice. Enjoy!

TOMATOES, ONIONS, AND GARLIC

6 oz. cherry tomatoes, havled
3-4 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
Olive Oil, and lots of it
Salt, Pepper, Herbs de Provonce

Cook pasta al dente. In a pan, heat lots of olive oil. Think, enough to cover my pasta, it’s up to you! Add more as you go. Throw in garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Add lots of salt, pepper, and herbs de provonce. Simmer until tomatoes and onions become soft. Mix in pasta until mixture becomes thick. Enjoy!

BROWN BUTTER AND LEMON

3/4 stick butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt and pepper
Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes for serving

Cook pasta al dente. Melt butter in a pan and simmer until it turns brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add garlic, letting simmer for 1-2 minutes. Return to low heat and add in pasta. Squeeze in lemon juice and add salt. Sprinkle parmesan and red pepper flakes to serve. Enjoy!

ONE WAY TO MAKE MARINARA

1 small can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes)
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced or sliced
Fresh basil, if available
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, italian seasoning

Add oil to pot and cook onions and peppers until they start to become soft, then add garlic. Cook for about 2 more minutes. Add in tomatoes and tomato sauce. Mix in generous amounts of herbs, salt, pepper, and seasonings. Simmer until mixture thickens. Use an immersion blender to blend to desired consistency. Continue to simmer to thicken if needed. Enjoy!

GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL

5-6 cloves garlic, sliced very thin
1/2 c. olive oil, + more, if needed
1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 tsp. dried parsley
Salt

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat with garlic until fragrant and soft, being careful not to burn it. Add red pepper flakes, dried parsley, and salt. Pour over pasta and mix well. Enjoy!