Like locusts (but yummier)

Locusts. Aren't they the ones that show up only every 17 years? My biology major is not helping me right now, but I think it's locusts.

Anyway, this spaghetti sauce is kinda the same; comes around every decade or so.

In 1997 I was living in my college apartment. I'd recently broken up with the ex, was getting to know Mr. H better, and invited him over for a spaghetti dinner. I made the sauce and meatballs from scratch, wore a red dress and, apparently, that was about the time he decided he'd like to marry me.

Needless to say I never made the sauce again until last night.  This is much more of a "leisurely weekend morning in the kitchen" recipe than a "weekday evening while trying to watch the Olympics" recipe but you've got to strike while the tomatoes are ripe (as they say).  The sauce was pretty tasty, the meatballs pretty bland (I forgot to add any salt) but the whole thing went over well.

Except for the poor kitchen. Look what this did to (half) the kitchen!

If you have a few hours to spare, a lot of tomatoes and a big pot, make a double batch. Here's the recipe (sorry, awful photo, too lazy to type) (you can click to make it bigger and possibly readable):

My adjustments:

• used tomato juice (only 64 oz for a double batch) and an extra six oz of tomato paste.
• fresh oregano (about 1/2 cup)
• a few extra (unpeeled) fresh tomatoes to go with the 6 lbs of peeled fresh
• sauteed onion/garlic first and added tomato stuff then spent an hour doing the meatballs, added them, then the other herbs etc.  Added juice as it seemed needed
• It takes about 4 times longer than the "30 minutes" of prep time. Seriously, what idiot said 30 minutes?

We froze some, ate some, gave some to the neighbors. Now I need to tackle the dishes.
.........
We're off to Oregon tomorrow to visit friends so I'll be back next week.

Comments

[myssi]

have a great trip, but please don't do this to your friends kitchen :)
heehee

that sauce looks yummmmmmmmmmmy
v8

[Richelle F]

Sounds yummy!!

[Lil' d]

Enjoy your trip!

I'm not sure when my husband decided that he wanted to marry me, but I can promise you, it was not anything to do with my (lack of) culinary skills. Or a dress, for that matter - I think my wedding dress was the first dress he ever saw me in...

[Amy]

YUM, that sounds SO good! Hope you had a great trip!