It was that time again. Today, after Chris made his batch of beer (since we use the same pots, burner, etc.) I took on my big batch of marinara. I make this once, maybe twice a year. We ran out about two months ago, and Chris and I both realized how much we liked it (since we complained a lot about the jarred sauce I bought).
And today, I attempted to actually make a recipe for what I made. I usually make it to taste and sight. So basically I wing it, and then someone asks me what I did, and I have no idea. So I measured what I did today.
First, the mirepoix. This had
4 lb carrots
2 lb celery
8 onions
1/3 cup minced garlic
4 cups of olive oil
Cook until tender and onions translucent. Use a BIG pot (or scale down I suppose!)
Then add lots of tomato products. I buy the very economical huge cans at Costco. ~110 oz. each. This recipe has
2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
Then, add spices and simmer ~ 2 hours.
1/2 cup sugar
6 tbsp basil
4-1/2 tbsp kosher salt
3 tbsp thyme
3 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp fennel seed
PS -- a really big stirrer is required. The first time we made it (poor planning) the spoon was too short, and I sanitized and used a clothes rod. Take two: purchase long metal spoon, but still pretty difficult to stir.
Today -- Chris let me use his beer
home brew mash paddle. Total success. Except now it is red and probably my dedicated paddle and I'll get him a new unflavored one for the beer making next time!
