Easy Veggie Loaded Pasta Sauce

The sauce may be made ahead of time and frozen. It can be used in lasagna, on top of zucchini noodles or pasta. My family’s favorite is zucchini lasagna or zucchini noodles + red lentil noodles. If I want to really stock my freezer, I double this recipe and freeze in quart containers. Nothing beats having homemade sauce at the ready. This sauce can be used in so many different ways you’ll not tire of it! It’s versatile too, allowing you to toss in any random veggies you have in the fridge.

Combine in a large saucepan and simmer uncovered: 

2 large cans (28oz each) Peeled tomatoes

4 cans tomato sauce-8 oz each

2 teaspoons salt

3 teaspoons dried oregano 

2 teaspoons onion salt (can substitute onion powder and increase salt a dash)

In a separate pan sauté until golden:

2 cups minced onions

6 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 

2 bell peppers, diced

1 cup celery, diced

1 cup carrots, diced

Once sautéed add to the tomato sauce. You can use this same pan for browning the meat below. 

In this pan brown: 

2 lbs ground beef

2 tsp salt

Cook until meat loses its pink color. Drain and add to the tomato sauce above. Simmer about 2.5 hours. 

Turkey Meatloaf (One for now, one for later!)

PICTURE COMING!

INGREDIENTS

2 - 2.5 lbs. ground turkey (2 packages of Aldi ground turkey = 2.5 lbs)

1 onion, diced

2 eggs

4 Tbs. coconut flour

1/2 c. Organic Ketchup, divided

4 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

2 tsp. dried marjoram

2 tsp. dried thyme, or 3-4 tsp fresh

1 tsp. dried basil

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. olive oil

cooking spray

2 x 9” loaf pans (or form one in a pan with wax or parchment paper, wrap tightly in saran and freeze to bake another week.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray each 9” loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Place 2 tsp. oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. To the onion mixture, add 4 Tbs. of the ketchup and the Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine and set aside to cool slightly.

4. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, coconut flour, marjoram, thyme, salt, and the onion/sauce mixture. Using clean hands, mix the ingredients until just combined and transfer to prepared pan. Use your hands or a a spatula to even out the meatloaf to ensure even cooking. Spread the remaining 2 Tbs. of ketchup on top & sprinkle with dried basil.

(note: if you are saving one meatloaf for freezing, omit topping with remaining ketchup & basil until you thaw and are ready to bake).

5. Cook at 350 for 50-55 minutes.