Fall weather brings Fresh Pasta Sauce over Spaghetti Squash

September 23, 2011
I love Fall, the days are warm and the nights are cool, no more air conditioners, yea!  Fall brings in our garden, watermelons, nectarines, peaches, cantaloupe, pumpkins, sweet meats, spaghetti, and butternut squashes.  We are in dated with this good produce, in fact, they are coming on so fast, we can't eat them fast enough.  So our ward neighbors have enjoyed some of our good veges and fruit.

Spaghetti Squash:
Cut in fourths, take out the seeds, put in pressure cooker with 1 cup water and pressure for 15 minutes.  Natural Release. Serve with Pasta Sauce or Butter with Salt and Pepper.

I love this home made Fresh Pasta Sauce. 
From the Book  "Get the Sugar Out" by Ann Louise Gittleman

Fresh Pasta Sauce:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 pound mushrooms, sliced thin
3-4 medium tomatoes, peeled and diced. ( I even put some whole tomatoes in my freezer, that way I can make this in the winter time.)
1-15 ounce can organic tomato sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon minced basil (or 2 tsp. dried)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced oregano (or 3/4 tsp. dried)

Directions:
Heat olive oil in pan, then saute' together the onion, garlic, and mushrooms, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.  Add the tomatoes to the sauteed mixture along with the tomato sauce, basil oregano, and pepper to taste.  Simmer on low, covered, for 30-35 minutes.  Makes about 4 cups.

Corn Chowder

Soups!  I love soup, the weather is starting to cool down and it is almost time for  great soups.We were up to Russ and Kari's for a BBQ and I had brought corn on the cob, and I had a lot left over!    Kari this is the Corn Chowder recipe.

Corn Chowder

Ingredients:
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 stalks celery diced
1 cup onions diced
2 cups cubed cooked potatoes
12 oz corn or 1 1/2 to 2 cups corn cut off the cob.
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup cream
2 cups water
I like to add 1/2 tsp. thyme
Rue:
1/3 cup flour
2 tbsp. flour

Instructions:
Cook bacon, saute onions and celery in the same pan.  Cook potatoes in pressure cooker for about 5 minutes and release steam, or cook on the stove in water.  Make rue with butter and flour.  Combine all ingredients (except rue) and bring to boil. (Also I like to add the bacon after the chowder has thickened).  Add rue until desired consistency is achieved (must stir/whisk constantly while adding rue at a hight heat).  Add salt and pepper to taste.  So good!

Here is another soup we love with corn and is so easy!

Southwestern Chunky Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
1 can chicken breast or 1 or more cups of cut up cooked chicken.
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained, or like me I make a big batch of beans and put in freezer bags and freeze.
1 can whole kernel corn or 1 1/2 cups corn, cooked and cut of the cob.
2 cans diced tomatoes
1-2 Tbs. taco seasoning
3 tbsp. ranch dressing mix
1 tbsp. dried onion

Instructions:
Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook for 2-3 hours.
Serve with Cheese and tortilla chips.