Spicy Red Sauce (Weekday Version for Cheaters)

Things needed

  • 3 to 4 tbsp Olive Oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pot)
  • 1 to 2 medium onions (white or yellow)
  • 6-8 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 heaping tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 heaping tbsp dried italian seasoning
  • 1 heaping tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 to 4 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1 large can (28 oz) crushed tomato
  • 2 medium cans diced tomato (14.5 oz cans)
  • 1/2 cup veggie broth
  • (optional) pinoles
  • (optional) meatballs (veggie used here)

Directions

Ingredients

In a large pot, cover the bottom with oil and cook over high heat until a drop of water sizzles. Add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until it is somewhat translucent. Once somewhat translucent, add Garlic and pignoles (if using).

NOTE: Make sure to stir every so often so that the mixture does not stick to the bottom

Oil/Onion/Garlic

After 30 seconds to 1 minute or so add all spices and again stir for 30 seconds to a minute

Spices and Wine
Onion/Garlic with additional Spices

After about 30 seconds. Change from a medium/high heat to a low heat and add wine to deglaze the pot.

Gently stirring occasionally, cook mixture for 5 minutes or so.

Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.

All mixed together ready to simmer

Let simmer, covered with a mesh cover/splatter shield, until the sauce has the desired texture/thickness. At any point, meatballs can be added according to the cooking instructions.

Blueberry Pie

Things needed

Pie Filling

  • 2 pints fresh blueberries
  • 1 navel orange
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla (more as desired – this is optional)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 3 tbsp tapioca flour (substitute: 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch)
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon (more depending on flavor preferences)
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg (more will make this spicier – again add more per preferences)

Pie Crust

  • Select pie crust dough that is either home made OR store bought. This will require 2 rounds.
  • Spray or buttered pie pan (8 to 9 inch). Smaller pan will create a deep dish pie.

Pie Topping

  • 1 tbsp half&half (substitute milk – regular or soy/almond)
  • 2 tbsp sugar (white sugar is what I used)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 F

Blueberries
Blueberries
Orange

Mix together the blueberries, juice from the orange (should be about 1 tbsp), light brown sugar, starch, the 1/2 cup of white sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg.

Let mixture sit for 20-30 minutes.

Prep pie pan with either UNSALTED butter or spray and use your favorite room temperature pie crust.

Line the pan with one of the two rounds of dough. This does not have to be perfect.

Pour blueberry mixture into the pie pan.

Place the second pie crust OVER the mixture and pinch the two crusts together all around the edges so that they are sealed off.

Cut four slices into the pie so that they ventilate the blueberry mixture (see image for a suggestion).

Brush half&half onto the top of the pie and sprinkle the sugar evenly over the top of the pie (listed in ‘topping’ section).

Put in oven and cook for 55 to 60 minutes.

Remove from oven and let sit out for at least 2 hours.