Basic Tomato Sauce (demi Bolognese)

• 2 15 oz. cans whole San Marzano tomatos
• 1 12 oz tomato sauce
• 1 6 oz. tomato paste

Crush up the whole tomatos into a crockpot. Mix some of the sauce with all of the paste to thin it down, then mix it in.

Fry 2 diced onions, 4 ribs of diced celery and the equivalent in finely diced or grated baby carrot along with half a head of diced garlic. Add to sauce.

Brown 1 lb. hot bulk sausage until crispy, add to sauce with 1 tbsp. grease (probably all)

The fun parts:
about a teaspoon of anchovy paste

Ok. I get it. You had a terrible experience as a child with anchovy pizza. This isn't that. This is like adding hot pepper to ice cream or salt to caramel. It enhances, and you don't notice it.

That said, I go the other way, with extra funk. Feel free not to, it's great if you just stop at anchovy.

• 3-4 dashes fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon shrimp powder

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• chiffed fresh basil/oregano/thyme/tarragon if available, go with the flow of what's fresh and tasty
• 1/2 to 1 bottle of wine
• 2 tablespoons beef bullion paste
• 1 cup grated Romano cheese

HOLD OFF on additional seasoning


Cook on low overnight with the lid cracked so it can evaporate down. We want it to go down almost halfway or at least a third. We keep it on low to preserve the acidity (brightness). If you get it too hot, we lose that. Don't lose it!

THEN you add salt, pepper or sugar or other final seasonings.
Enjoy! Super rich, zippy and versatile.
For freezing, decant into 4 separate ziploc freezer bags, that's enough for two portions, small pizzas or pastas.

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Today I'm making a meatey meat sauce for ravioli using Country Style Ribs. Marinated 8 hours in Dale's Seasoning and rubbed with Montreal Steak Seasoning, with glugs of vinegar, fish sauce and soy sauce.

Back to a clean crockpot, cook overnight on low. In the morning, pluck out the meat and grill for about 15-20 minutes to finish rendering fat. Finish like pulled pork using forks, then add to sauce. Plate with sauce first with ravoili on top, finish with grated Parm and lime juice. Pat yourself on the head as you enjoy a fantastic plate.

Ridiculicious. Fantastic.

Side thoughts: corn on the cob, Caesar salad, Asian style green beans, cabbage ramen salad, pickled beets with sliced avocado and onion.