Spaghetti Dinner inspired by Julie/Julia Project

Let's get this straight right off the bat. I'm definitely not a chef. I wouldn't even characterize myself as a cook. I can bake some nice cookies and I can even make a mean chocolate cheesecake, but that's where it stops. I'm the type of person who likes to dance to the beat of her own drum. (Although I really can't dance either.)

So when I was in school I took all the Tech Ed classes with the boys instead of Home Economics. I wanted to work with tools and make things with my hands. I had no interest in standing in front of a stove and waiting for something to brown. I loved working with a robot, wiring a wall, making a windchime and even putting together a rocket. I had a great time routering the edge of my pig shaped cutting board. Although the teacher did put his hands over the top of mine. I guess he thought a girl couldn't handle that tool. Boy, was he wrong! Some of my current tools include a soldering iron, grinder, vise, drill press, tile saw, kiln and wet belt sander. You should see the glass fly when I'm working.

Well, back to the subject of cooking. I loved watching the movie "Julie and Julia". Although I don't have a love of cooking, like the Julie character in that movie, I wanted to make some meals from scratch and see how well they could come out. I figured I could document my process and people could either share in my joy of a job well done or laugh at my complete and utter failure. I should clarify that "by scratch" I mean not a meal from a box. I probably will take a few shortcuts, but the overall goal is to cook something that isn't a "just add chicken/meat" meal.

Tonight I attempted to make my own marinara sauce. I found a recipe online that was inspired by a woman's visit to the Olive Garden. Well, the Olive Garden is my most favorite restaurant. My husband even proposed to me at one, but that's another story. So I'm reading through the recipe to make sure I have all the ingredients when I see that I have to saute onions. Is it lame that I had to google "how to saute onions" to figure it out? This should give you a clue of how little I know when it comes to cooking.

Here is the recipe I used.

Marinara Sauce Recipe #58246

A trip to the Olive Garden inspired me to create this recipe. This is a quick, easy and versatile Marinara Sauce with a delicious fresh taste. Serve over cooked spaghetti, ravioli or other pasta; sprinkle with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Or chill and serve as a salsa with garlic bread sticks or tostitos. by BeachGirl

35 min | 5 min prep

SERVES 6

• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons sugar (to taste) or 1/2-3/4 teaspoon Equal sugar substitute (to taste) or 2 tablespoons Splenda sugar substitute, granules (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1. In a saucepan, saute the onions, but do not let them brown.
2. To the saucepan, add the liquid drained from the diced tomatoes. Add the basil, Italian seasonings, sugar (or sugar substitute) and crushed red peppers. Simmer liquid and spices for about 30 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
3. Add the diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes and cook just until heated, about 1 minute.
4. If you prefer, you can used whole tomatoes and dice them, saving any tomato liquid for Step 2.

I think the sauce turned out wonderfully. I skipped adding the red pepper flakes this time, but I might add them the next time I make this recipe. My husband was very happy with the meal as well. While I was cooking the sauce he took one look at it and said, "I'm actually excited about eating spaghetti for once." I'm an italian girl at heart and could probably eat pasta most days so my husband is probably a little tired of it. We also had breadsticks with the meal, but I have to admit that they were not from scratch. I basically just warmed them in the oven. After my husband cleaned his plate he said that this sauce was WAY better than anything you could buy in the store. What a compliment for a girl who didn't even know how to saute onions. So my first attempt at making a meal from scratch was a SUCCESS!

Ingredients

Saute the onions

Added herbs and liquid from tomato

Pasta

Crushed and diced tomatoes added

Yummy Breadsticks

Bon Appetit!