Meat Sauce using Plum Tomatoes

A simple and delicious crockpot pasta sauce using Plum tomatoes.  

Simple to make

2 lb. beef and pork ground
3 to 4 cloves garlic (sliced, minced or whole)
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black or red pepper
2 large cans Tuttorosso plum tomatoes emulsified several times with immersion blender, processor(or simply crush well pushing down with a fork).
3 or fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp. dried basil
**1 small can tomato paste (optional for thicker sauce) 

1 lb. pasta cooked according to directions.  Drain well!!!!  so water does not settle to bottom of serving dish.

Brown meat in olive oil chopping with large spoon to break up into small pieces.  Add salt and pepper and garlic.  Add to crockpot and set on low.  Add tomatoes, basil, and Italian seasoning.  Cover and cook approximately 4 to 6 hours. 

 ** Note: If you like a slightly thicker pasta sauce add 1 can tomato paste when adding the tomatoes and stir to blend before placing lid on crockpot.

Use blender and pulse until tomatoes are no longer whole

The Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg!

I have the worst time getting the perfect hard boiled egg so today after two attempts these eggs are looking perfect .

Here is what I did.  I placed two eggs in cold water. You can do as many as you like but don't overcrowd them. I added a splash of vinegar and a dash of salt and boiled them for 15 minutes slightly covered.

 With a slotted spoon I removed the eggs and placed them in a pan of ice water. The shells were able to be removed easily and they look pretty lol. No chunks of white missing!

The end result hopefully the perfect egg. 

 Note:  Very dull knife so the cut isn't as nice as it could be.

4 ingredient Crockpot Meal

A great winter crockpot comfort food recipe that you can either make some hearty sandwiches with or thicken the sauce, place some of this meat on a slice of bread, add some mashed potatoes and you have a great knife and fork meal. Easy to make with only four ingredients and depending on the size of your roast you'll have some leftovers for another day.

Bottom round beef roast was on sale so I made mine using this type roast but a less expensive cut would work out well to. (example Lean Boneless Chuck roast).

2 1/2 or 3 lb. beef roast( any of your choice) chuck, rump, bottom round as examples.  It doesn't have to be an expensive cut roast just not loaded with fat.  A little goes a long way!
1 bottle chili sauce
4 cloves garlic
1/2 bottle dill pickles drained

Place roast( I made a huge cut thru center before placing in crockpot), chili sauce, garlic and pickles in crockpot. (pickles on top)

Set crockpot to low.  Cover, cook approximately 7 to 8 hours or until it pulls apart or shreds.

After shredding place shredded roast back in crockpot with the yummy juice.  Remember to remove pickles!

Today we had shredded beef sandwiches and I topped ours with some creamy store bought cole slaw.  Yum!  Great for leftovers!