Sit Down and Savor… Naturally Made Marinara Sauce
Dinner, recipesAdd commentsJun 212013Over looking beautiful Verona, Italy during our last trip a few years ago!
I like to consider myself an Italian food connoisseur (I’m only half-way kidding!)! My husband does as well! We love our Italian and really love to visit little “Bucu nel muro ristoranti” or hole in the wall restaurants where ever we go!
Having lived in Firenze for some time, really made me begin to appreciate real food. The Italians truly know how to make a meal special… and slow. They enjoy the whole experience of eating, savoring each bite, each sip of wine, and of course the company of their loved ones. They have it right! Food should be an experience, and never to be eaten while… standing or (gasp) driving!
Unfortunately, we live in a fast paced society. Everyone is on the go all the time. We take a bite here and a bite there, and sometimes even forgetting to eat (we should eat every 3 hours!). We have all been there. Especially as a mom of TWO almost two-year-olds, it takes every ounce of me to sit down and savor a meal. I do not remember the last time I was not interrupted for a meal (without being on date night!).
This is something we should work on… eat together (no TV or electronics), talk together, savor each bite together. I love this saying and enforce this in my house, “Families who eat together stay together.” Make it mandatory! Cook, eat, enjoy, talk! Be like the Italians who believe, “Living an unhurried life, begins at the table.” Getting back in the kitchen will not only help our health, but also stregnthen the family.
Everyone needs to have a favorite marinara sauce recipe. I love a good sauce. This one has great flavor and is used in many of my dishes. I always make a double batch… use one, freeze one! This way you have homemade marinara on hand! More Italian recipes coming… this one is a starter!
Naturally Made Marinara Sauce
Ingredients (always try to choose Organic)
**note** This is a double batch, so you can freeze half. If you only want to make one batch, cut the ingredients in half.
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive OIl
1 onion
3-4 Garlic Cloves
2 Celery Stalks
2 Carrots
2 cans (32 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
2 Dried Bay leaves
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
Set out all of your ingredients. Wash vegetables.
Chop onion, celery, into carrots into large chunks and place into food processor. Add garlic cloves. You can also chop vegetables very small by hand.
Pulse to chop vegetables until they are very fine, but not pureed.
Heat EVOO in pan and add the vegetables. Sautee’ for a few minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant and the celery and carrots become softer.
Add the remaining ingredients… tomatoes, dried bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 1 hour minimum.
Enjoy with an Nitrate free, all natural Chicken sausage and whole grain spaghetti or pasta of choice!
Mangia Mangia! Enjoy!
You might also like…
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/definitions/slow-food-movement
http://slowfoodportland.com/blog/
http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/blog
all natural, naturally made, organic, recipe, slow food13 Responses to “Sit Down and Savor… Naturally Made Marinara Sauce”
Tanya says:June 21, 2013 at 8:05 pmThis looks so good! I’ve never thought of adding carrots and celery to my sauce, bell peppers are my usual go to add in, I’ll definitely have to try this out! We had your shredded beef tacos this week and they were so good! I also made your lemon lara bars yesterday and they are almost gone today 🙂
ReplyLove Life Naturally says:June 22, 2013 at 3:46 pmThanks!!! Over the past almost 6 years of marriage, this is my favorite. There has been a lot of trial and error 😉
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Kat says:June 23, 2013 at 12:14 pmAnd you know that I heart this post 🙂 Yes for real food, yes for Italy and I will try your recipe! :)Kat recently posted…10 Reasons I Love Italy…
ReplyLove Life Naturally says:June 23, 2013 at 8:57 pmI hope so my Italiano friend! Good travels to you! How long will you be abroad?
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Homemade Sun Dried Tomatoes | Loving Life… Naturally says:August 1, 2013 at 2:24 pm[…] tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and balsamic, rich marinara sauce, Sun dried Tomatoes on top of pizza, in your pasta or on top of salads! I love tomatoes. They are […]
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ReplyLove Life Naturally says:August 1, 2013 at 5:11 pmWow! Thank you so much!! I will definitely check it out! Sounds like a great opportunity! Can I ask how you found me? 🙂
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Sue says:August 29, 2013 at 11:27 pmYummy!! I’m going to try this. What brand organic crushed tomatoes is in the picture? Is that the kind you use? Thanks!!!
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Chris says:September 11, 2013 at 11:54 amBeautiful Photos as always!Chris recently posted…Vegan Sweet Potato & Lentil Mini BBQ Sliders
ReplyLove Life Naturally says:September 11, 2013 at 2:53 pmawe… Thank you so much! 🙂
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Naturally Made… Vegetarian Eggplant Parmesan and Roasted Maple Acorn Squash∙Loving Life… Naturally | Loving Life… Naturally says:October 10, 2013 at 4:12 pm[…] is as close as it comes. It is layered like a lasagna made with wholesome, fresh ingredients, my Homemade Maranera Sauce, and freshly grated cheeses for melt in your mouth flavor! Perfect to enjoy with a refreshing […]
Natural Health Blog| Easy Zucchini Recipe|Margherita Zucchini Sticks says:January 9, 2014 at 4:41 pm[…] recipe makes a great addition to my Spaghetti Marinara, Eggplant Parmasan, and/or Authentic Italian Meatballs. Bon […]
Homemade Authentic Italian Meatballs says:January 18, 2014 at 9:59 am[…] Everyone family needs to have a favorite meatball recipe. I mean who doesn’t like meatballs? I have finally mastered the meatball, as it is a specialty and is actually more challenging to make than one would think (I have failed many times!) They take a special technique to get them just right. These are, by far, my favorite recipe that I have come up with and I hope you love them as much as we do! Serve with Homemade Marinara Sauce! […]
