Tomato Sauce as a Time Machine

I am forever transported through the years of my life by certain smells. Some bad, most good. Even amazing...

This afternoon as I make the first "meat sauce" I've made in ages - I am transported to my grandmother's kitchen through the springtimes of my younger days. Sitting in a super warm, toasty kitchen, a light breeze coming through the windows, the sun going down and turning everything yellow. Smelling the tomato sauce, sauteed meat, garlic, fennel, basil - reading through the newspaper or looking at pictures or books and just shooting the shit with my Baci as my Gramps comes and goes through the kitchen with materials of various projects he's working on [or at least pretending to]. Taking the scraps to the dog, taking the garbage to the burning barrel, grabbing tools or rags from the basement while working on his riding mower to take care of the lawn. And of course stealing a cookie or two from the jar behind my Baci's back with a wink.

Such vivid memories, it warms my heart. If I close my eyes - I am in her kitchen, waiting for a delicious dinner. I remember getting salad in a reused "cool whip" container while we waited. Even being offered a soda from the basement or a glass of milk. And some cauliflower and "french" dressing for dipping.

As I stir my sauce and wait, I can feel the distance getting close...

And of course - here's how I made it:
1/2 lb ground beef
1 small chopped onion
Several minced garlic cloves
1 tsp fennel seeds crushed
2 tsps red pepper flakes
2 tsp dried basil
some italian season for good measure
some black pepper
1 28 oz can whole tomatoes
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup water [you can also use veggie broth]

Brown beef with garlic and onion and dry seasonings. [at this point feel free to deglaze with a bit of red wine before adding the rest].
Add the rest and simmer for a while - until it smells/feels right.

Easy and delicious.

Big Plans

I have big plans for this weekend:
Taxes [Check]
Homework [Not yet]
Scones [Check]
Yoga [Check]
Brunch [Check]
Work from home [Check]
Angel Food Cupcakes [Not Yet]
Quinoa Salad [Not Yet]



I think my next check will be those Angel Food Cupcakes. Oh man...just thinking about them makes me drool.

The first time I experienced an Angel Food Cupcake was in the "Market" at GCT [Grand Central Terminal] in NYC. I've made it a tradition whenever I get to the city to get one of those cupcakes. Since I now live approximately 2500 miles away - I need to make them myself.

Here's how:
Take your basic Angel Food Cake Recipe. [Here's the one I used: Betty Crocker's Angel Food Cake Recipe]

Next - get those baking cups into your muffin/cupcake pan. Fill each cup about 1/2 way with batter. Bake at 375 for about 12-15 minutes.

Eat them plain. With berries [my favorite!] or any frosting you care to dress them up with.

Heaven.