#19: Cook 5 new-to-me dinner recipes (recipe 5)

So, I am going to fully admit that I am cheating a bit with this recipe - but since it was new and absolutely delicious, I have rationalized it "counting."  This can't technically be considered a FULL "dinner recipe", but one of the components was new to me....so there! 

On Sunday night, Shannon and I decided to prepare one of our "go to" recipes - spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs and marinara sauce.  We like to cook up an entire squash and a bunch of meatballs, so that we are guaranteed dinner for both of us for at least two nights during the work week.  When we have done this before, we have paired the squash and meatballs with a jarred tomato sauce.  Prior to our grocery store trip this past weekend, however, we decided to tackle making our own basic marinara sauce. 

I found a recipe online and after realizing how easy it was going to be to prepare a homemade sauce, I knew we absolutely had to give it a try.  The recipe called for olive oil, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, sugar, salt and pepper!  Shannon and I improvised a bit and also sauteed a little chopped onion and mushrooms with the onion and garlic cloves.  The two items were a wonderful addition.  I think the recipe lends itself to addition of whatever you might be in the mood for - whether it be ground beef, zucchini, cheese, peppers, whatever! 

I ate my first serving of the homemade sauce with the spaghetti squash and the turkey meatballs and it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.  There is no doubt in my mind that I will make this sauce again and again due to its ease of preparation, the low cost of the ingredients, and the fact that it's free of artificial flavors and additives. 

DELISH!