Tomato Sauce...jar or homemade?
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
United States
November 11, 2015 11:49am CST
Tonight is pasta night in my house and I have a marinara sauce (or gravy as some people call it) simmering on the stove.
I love homemade marinara and it's so easy to make. Not only is it quick and easy but it smells so good while it's simmering.
Because of my high blood pressure I tend to stay away from anything pre-made that comes in a jar or can as it usually is very high in both sodium and sugar.
Using cans of tomatoes (crushed, puree or whole) normally has far less of both (sodium & sugar).
When I make my marinara I just simmer some garlic in olive oil, add my tomatoes, and basil. Of course, making your own is a little more time consuming than opening a jar but the taste is so much better.
Do you make your own?
20 people like this
24 responses
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
I love lasagna. In fact it's my favorite pasta meal but I don't make it very often
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51098)
• Canada
12 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 No I don't make it very often either. I did make it recently and I hate the way that the bottom layer isn't substantial enough to necessarily get the piece out of the pan without falling apart, so I braided the noodles on the bottom to give it a better base. It worked quite well.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
@Juliaacv braiding the noodles sounds like a good solution for that bottom layer. I'll keep it in mind next time I make lasagna (which will probably be for Thanksgiving)
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
11 Nov 15
It has to be homemade. I am not one for any of the store bought stuff. I don't do box dinners or any of that stuff either. I like knowing exactly what is in my food.
3 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
12 Nov 15
@friendlyopinion I don't have a garden at present time. But I buy produce and make my own sauce. I am a very picky eater, so I have to know everything in my food.
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
@friendlyopinion I'm always envious of people who their own gardens and can grow their own food. Sadly I don't have a garden 
@friendlyopinion (77)
• United States
12 Nov 15
I'm with you! I like to know what I'm eating. And I have a little garden that had the most amazing tomato plants this year. I know exactly what I put into the tomato sauce that's now filling my shelves. Homemade pizza? Yes, please!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
11 Nov 15
I don't eat Italian food - but my 2/3 Italian husband wouldn't eat sauce from a jar if it was the only food on earth. He makes his own and it only takes 15 mins. not 4 hours.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
11 Nov 15
@boiboing his mom is Irish an Italian and his dad was all Russian - three nationalities - that's how I cam up with that.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
11 Nov 15
Making sauce is quicker than most people think and mine doesn't take 4 hrs either. It takes longer if it's filled with meatballs & sausage though
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
I try to eat as natural as I can too
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
12 Nov 15
I use the jar stuff as I don't know how to make my own and sometimes i don't have time to experience it. Either one is good though
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
The jar stuff is very tasty and perfectly fine to use. I know some people who would think it's a sin to put jar sauce on their pasta.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
12 Nov 15
i really haven't but you made me think i might try it if i get energetic some day
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
You don't need much energy @bunnybon7 it only takes about 15 to 20 min
@missybear (11391)
• United States
12 Nov 15
I love making Spaghetti sauce and I do use can tomato paste and crushed tomatoes then add garlic, onions and peppers, mushrooms. I do not like using sauce in a jar like Ragu or Hunts sauce
1 person likes this
@missybear (11391)
• United States
13 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 I do like to put veggies into my sauce, they just cook up and give it extra flavor
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
Adding veggies to your homemade sauce must be delicious!!
1 person likes this
@much2say (55562)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Nov 15
Homemade is always best! I never get the premade sauce - it tastes funny to me - and often they are too smooth. I don't put in any extra salt or sugar in my sauce. I can add tons of veggies (in chunks) to make it more nutritious!
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
•
12 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 I roast them on a pan with a little dot of slated butter. I sprinkle with with a generous dash of pepper.
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
12 Nov 15
Your dinner sounds delicious. I've never roasted tomatoes but I do like roasted veggies
1 person likes this
@wetnosedogs (1533)
• United States
11 Nov 15
In my younger days, I did. Now I don't too much.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82710)
• United States
11 Nov 15
many jars are very tasty but I have to watch my sodium & sugar
1 person likes this
@workguddu (155)
• Shillong, India
12 Nov 15
Both jar and honmade have their own taste as the jar has artificial asscence and colourfull presevatives while hommade is made of fresh tomato and prepared with great care and love too.
1 person likes this
