Well my friends…the week of Gifts in Jars continues here at The Cottage Market with a delicious and yummy Homemade Marinara Sauce! Who doesn’t love a rich and scrumptious Marinara Sauce…it the perfect food! You can make a quick and easy pasta dish or an intense and elaborate lasagna…you can use it as a dipping sauce or layer it on your pizza…ah the many faces of Marinara! So…it would also be a fabulous gift right! Just our it in a Mason Jar…attach the Free Printable adorable labels and share it with your favorite people!
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I don’t know what it’s like in your house…but in mine…nothing says YUM like a big bowl of PASTA!!!
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The pasta doesn’t have to be fancy…a simple Marinara Sauce is always welcomed with a smile!
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So why not share a smile with a family member or friend and give them a nice big jar of Marinara Sauce…
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when you add the labels with your favorite twine or ribbon…it really looks like the perfect gift.
You can get your Free Printables right here:
Large Mason Jar top Label…Average Mason Jar Label and Tag
I always like to tell everyone when they are following a recipe like this that you can add and subtract anything that you would like…if you enjoy a spicy sauce…add some crushed pepper…if you don’t like the taste of onions and prefer scallions…use them just like I do and if you don’t like onions…leave them out. If you like more garlic…go for it…if you don’t like as much…just adjust it. If you have never used balsamic and brown sugar before…add a tablespoon of each at a time to see if you like it (trust me…you will) I have been using it for the last 10 years of cooking and I wish I knew where it was all my life!!! That’s not to say Grand Ma and Mom’s Marinara wasn’t delicious : ) Oh and if you have fresh basil…use it : ) Have fun while you cook and always add some extra love!
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If you are giving as a gift and not doing the “canning” process…tell your friend or family member to place the sauce in the fridge and it will be good for over a week…they won’t wait that long to eat it though!
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If you are giving it as a gift…maybe place it in a colander …add a pack of yummy pasta…a wedge of cheese and a wooden spoon…it’s a GREAT Gift! Be creative and ENJOY! Oh yes and remember…this is just a great basic Marinara that will become a family favorite. Bon APPETIT!!!
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- ½ of your favorite olive oil
- 4 tablespoons of Tomato Paste of your choice
- 2 28 ounce cans of Crushed Tomatoes or if you like really smooth sauce...use 2 cans of Tomato Puree
- 5-6 cloves of grated fresh garlic
- 1 medium grated sweet onion or 2 bunches of scallions (the whites and ½ the greens) sliced paper thin...it is your choice...you know which your family loves the best!)
- 2 tablespoons of Basil Pesto (Homemade or Purchased)
- 3-4 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons of a good balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of dried Italian herbs (if fresh is available...about 2-3 tablespoons added near the end)
- 1 whole carrot peeled
- Heat up you olive oil and saute the onions for about 3 minutes
- Add the garlic and stir for about 1 minute
- Then add the tomato paste and saute for about 2 minutes
- Add the 2 cans of Puree or Crushed Tomatoes
- Stir well
- Bring to a low boil and then reduce to a simmer
- Add your Salt...Pepper...Seasonings...Pesto...brown sugar...balsamic vinegar and then just place the entire carrot in the pot (it draws any of the bitterness from the tomatoes out ...you just discard at the end of cooking)
- Now stir once again...cover and allow to simmer for 1-2 hours stirring occasionally
- Time to serve it up!
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Now let’s get cooking!!!
Now let’s see what my friends have been up to!
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(((((HUGS)))))
Malia says
MMM this looks amazing! What a great gift idea too. Thanks for creating all those different sizes of tags. You are the best!