Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Seldom do I make sauce from scratch anymore. I just use jarred, and add to it if necessary.
My favorite is Francesco Rinaldi (Original or Sweet & Tasty Tomato). It's a local company, too. I especially like it for making pasta e fagioli, a favorite of ours.
How about you?
Classico for any type of alfredo - thier sun-dried tomato alfredo sauce is outsanding, Emeril for any of the red sauces - his vodka sauce is to die for.
I always use a jar in my sauce, and for that I use whatever is on sale, between Prego, Bertoli , Classico, and a few others. I use a jar of sauce, a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, and a 15 oz can of petite diced, along with onion, ground beef or sausage, and herbs.
If you want a fabulous meat sauce right out of the jar, with no doctoring up required, Mid's Meat sauce is worth the expense.
I adulterate sauces so much by adding everything from more spices to grated cheeses to extra virgin olive oil to chopped Kalamata olives, capers, onions, garlic, etc. that is does not resemble the stuff in the jar.
I always use a jar in my sauce, and for that I use whatever is on sale, between Prego, Bertoli , Classico, and a few others. I use a jar of sauce, a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, and a 15 oz can of petite diced, along with onion, ground beef or sausage, and herbs.
If you want a fabulous meat sauce right out of the jar, with no doctoring up required, Mid's Meat sauce is worth the expense.
I usually doctor mine jarred sauces as well. Normally with more onion & garlic, a sauteed banana pepper, fresh herbs in summer.
Mid's is pretty good. Although our current fave is TJ's "Rustico" as it's carb-friendly (less sugar than most national brands).
Classico for any type of alfredo - thier sun-dried tomato alfredo sauce is outsanding, Emeril for any of the red sauces - his vodka sauce is to die for.
I'll second Emeri's vodka sauce.
I used to make the sauce for Penne Alla Vodka years ago from scratch. I'd tried a number of jarred vodka sauces as more and more varieties appeared, but wasn't impressed until I tried Emeril's. Delicious, easy, and cheaper, too, since I no longer have to buy heavy cream, vodka, and those sun-dried tomatoes!
Prepared tomatoe sauce has come a long way and, with the extras added to individualize it, tastes a lot like homemade.
I make Marcella Hazan's Tomato, Onion, and Butter sauce for pasta. It's almost as difficult as "doctoring up" jarred sauce, and it tastes so much better than any jarred sauce I've had (Classico before it got bought out, Prego, Ragu, Trader Joe's). I always use canned tomatoes. I add fresh basil and serve with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. It's literally the easiest thing I know how to make. You don't even have to chop the onion--just peel it and cut it almost in half. Except for the jar from TJ's, I literally haven't felt the need to use jarred sauce since 1991.
Trader Joe's Arrabiata Sauce (it's a little bit spicy) - But I did NOT like their Traditional Marinara sauce at all.
Berilla Marinara doctored up with more garlic and onion. Bertolli is a third choice.
I have heard and read that Giada de Laurentis' jarred sauces are excellent, but I rarely shop at Target (which, I think, is the only place they sell them?)
I use two local store brands - one from Albertson's and one from Safeway. I've found that they include the least number of artificial ingredients and they taste pretty good even before adding my own spices, etc.
And, of course, they tend to be less expensive.
Trader Joe's Arrabiata Sauce (it's a little bit spicy) - But I did NOT like their Traditional Marinara sauce at all.
They should have called it Dried Green Herb sauce. It was nasty.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
