In my final post about focus for the new year, I wanted to share a list of projects I'd like to try in the coming months. I was inspired by Crystal's post on 12 Do-It-Yourself Projects I Plan to Attempt in 2011 and hope to learn some new skills (and probably attempt a few things that I will never repeat!).
January: Cook homemade spaghetti sauce (Got a recipe to share for this one?)
February: Post a vlog
March: Make homemade doughnuts
April: Plant a container garden with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers (I tried the tomatoes a couple of years ago, but hope to do better with them this time.)
May: Learn how to play chess
June: Select a song and learn to play it well on the piano (I have basic musical knowledge, but very rarely sit down and use the piano.)
July: Read my digital camera manual, along with a couple of photography books or blogs, and learn to take better photos
August: Make my own yogurt
September: Bake homemade bagels
October: Publish an e-book
November/December: Knit scarves for my daughters' dolls. (Yes - it may take two months, considering my lack of skill at any handiwork!)
What's something new you'd like to try in 2011?
photo courtesy public domain pictures
I am hoping to take up photography. I need to purchase a new camera. With the hubby deploying I would love to take great pics to send to him.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I have always wanted to learn how to play chess.
Blessings!
Tracey, here's my mom's recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce (which I haven't made in a really long time...maybe I should do that this year, too):
ReplyDeleteMeatballs: 1 lb. hamburger, a couple of crust of bread run through the blender to chop them up, one egg and some dried parsley Mix, make balls, brown on all sides.
Sauce: 2 15-oz. cans chopped tomatoes in juice, 2 6-oz. cans Italian tomato paste; 1 cup of water. Heat up and let simmer for a while. Add mushrooms, onions, or whatever you want.
I'd like to get into haute couture this year, designing my own clothing and sewing them. I'm not sure if that is a realistic new thing to put on my list or not, but that's probably the only NEW thing I'm wanting to do this year so far...
ReplyDeleteLove your list. I make my own spaghetti sauce, but it's all in my head - next time I make it I'll try to remember to measure it and write it down for you! :)
I'll be eager to hear how you go with your goals! :)
Great goals!
ReplyDeleteI haven't made homemade spaghetti sauce in much too long! My Mom always made a great sauce. It's simple, too. Brown 2 lbs of hamburger with diced onion. Simmer with 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste, 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce, 1 (16 oz) can water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 Tblsp brown sugar, 1 Tblsp chili powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 2 bay leaves and 1 clove garlic. I hope your family enjoys your homemade sauce!
Thanks for visiting and following my site!
Hi Tracey!
ReplyDeleteHere's a sauce recipe I came up with after combining a few different ones:
1/2 large green pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 to 3/4 lb. mild Italian sausages, casings removed
28 oz. diced tomatoes
28 oz. crushed tomatoes
6 oz. tomato paste
1/2 c. white cooking wine
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. sugar
1 T. dried parsley
2 t. dried basil
1 large bay leaf
2 to 3 t. beef bouillon powder
fresh cracked pepper, to taste
salt, to taste, if needed
Brown and drain meat, and add fresh veggies to saute for a few minutes. Add remaining ingredients, adding a little water if necessary. Simmer for a while. Remove bay leaf.
I use 10 heaping ladles of sauce to make a pound of baked spaghetti. Sauce can be frozen.
Note: I sometimes also throw in a jar of Ragu meat-flavored sauce as well, but it's not necessary, and is what you're trying to say goodbye to, so leave it out! :)
What a fun post - I like the idea of scheduling new things to try....
ReplyDeleteThis is the pasta sauce "recipe" that my husband's Swiss German/Italian grandmother shared with me... It's simple, but it's DELICIOUS!
You will need:
- fresh garlic (3 cloves or so, to taste)
- canned diced tomatoes (as many cans as you think you will need for your family. I usually use 3-4)
- olive oil
- salt
- basil (fresh or dried)
- 1-2 bay leaves
- rosemary (fresh or dried)
Pour 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil into a saucepan, heat, and add minced garlic. Brown the garlic, then add your canned tomatoes. Add salt to taste, then your herbs to taste - I never measure. I usually use 1 or 2 branches of fresh rosemary, probably 1 T. of basil (dried), 1/2 t. salt, and 2 bay leaves.... But you can adjust it to your liking. Simmer for one hour over low heat, stirring occasionally, then serve over penne noodles. Enjoy!