There are so many different ways to make this bean and pasta soup. This is just a rough guideline.
Pasta Fagioli
Marinara Sauce (to Can)
This summer we wanted to make Marinara Sauce to can some garden tomatoes our neighbor, Mrs. Beer, shared with us. We knew she often cans her extra tomatoes, so we asked for her favorite recipe. She gave us this one and we adjusted it very slightly.
We usually eat a whole quart of sauce with spaghetti, but decided to can pints instead this year. Our thought was to use it for extra special grilled pizza since we often have that with company. This sauce is also extra good on homemade noodles.
Using roma tomatoes are best for a thick sauce, but we usually combine them with assorted tomatoes from the garden. We think it creates a better blend of flavors.
Split Pea Soup
I never really liked split pea soup, but Allan mentioned that he liked it a few months ago. So, I decided to try it again. Surprise! I liked it 🙂 Proof it is always good to keep trying new things.
Ham Bone Broth
Not sure what to do with a left over ham bone? This is an easy broth to make as a base for many different soups. Adjust ingredients to your liking.
Vodka Sauce to Can
We tried vodka sauce when a we had a coupon for a name brand jar. We liked it and bought it a few times. Then we discovered how easy it was to make. This sauce is great plain, but it is even better when cream is added. We often use it instead of pizza sauce.
Some simple recommendations for this recipe:
If you can, use at least half Roma or Amish tomatoes. Then mix and match assorted tomatoes for a fuller flavor. Different amounts of tomatoes will product different amount of liquid in the sauce, so you may need to strain it or boil it longer.
Adding olive oil is optional, but I recommended it.
Use a cheap bottle of vodka. What you do not use in the sauce, use for vanilla extract 🙂
Feel free to adjust seasonings, but do not alter amounts of tomatoes or onions if you plan to can the sauce.
Venison Stew
I asked Mark what he wanted for dinner when he was home for Spring break. He really wanted a good stew. He gets it at school, but it is often salty and served with noodles.
Stew is a very flexible meal. Add more or less vegetables or add other favorites. Serve with a lettuce salad and maybe some bread, and you have an easy meal.
If you have frozen stew meat, you can still cook it in the crock pot. Skip browning the meat. Start cooking the stew on high in the morning and cook for 8 hours. We prefer to cook the frozen meat for 3 or 4 hours with pepper, garlic and onions, then add the remaining vegetables and spices for the last few hours of cooking.