Spiffy Canned Spaghetti Sauce (with garlic toast!)

Ok.  So everyone loves a good spaghetti sauce 'amiright?  'Course I am!  Problem is, the good Italian-Matriarch sauce can be time consuming and expensive.  Instead, I'll teach you how to spiff up a $0.98 can of spaghetti sauce to make it taste homemade.  Also, what good is spaghetti without a bit of garlic toast?!  No oven? No problem!  Alright, here's the shtick:

Sauce Ingredients:

One can cheap spaghetti sauce

Pepperoni
Onion Powder/Onion
Mushrooms
Parsley
Butter

Salt & Pepper

Garlic
Sugar *optional*

Garlic Toast Ingredients:

Bread
Butter
Garlic

Cheese *optional*

The Magic:

First get a medium saucepan and melt about a tablespoon of butter on medium heat.  While that's melting, go ahead and chop up a handful of pepperoni however you like!  I prefer chunks of pepperoni for a nice salty surprise.  The pepperoni will add a meaty depth to the sauce, in addition to spicing things up a bit.  For more spice, add a bit more pepperoni.  If you have a whole onion, chop it up now too.  Then, when the butter is melted, toss 'em in!

While the pepperoni is cooking, chop up three mushrooms, five if you really like the fun guys (hehe).  If you are using the 6.5 oz canned mushrooms, use the whole can.  When the pepperoni is looking beautiful (a nice deep red) toss them in along with 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic.
**Tip:  Instead of buying and storing fresh garlic, don't be afraid to go with the cheaper jarred variety.  It's cheaper and keeps longer!**

Let that all cook together for a few minutes, stirring often.  You want to make sure the mushrooms get coated with the liquid in the bottom of the pan.  This is where all the flavor is.  Mushrooms are like little tasty sponges, which soak up surrounding flavors while adding a bit of earthiness, so you want to give them time to absorb the awesome.

Then, go ahead and add the can of sauce.  Sprinkle in a pinch of salt and a few pinches of pepper.  If you are using Onion Powder, sprinkle 2 or 3 shakes in now.  Heat through.

After the sauce is nice and bubbly, taste it.  Then, go ahead and add a bit of sugar (if you like sweet sauce) or cayenne/red pepper/tabasco (if you like spicy).  Alter to TASTE.  This is critical!  After all, this sauce is your masterpiece, make it taste amazing!  Finally, add some parsley.

 Such...Steamy...Goodness!

 Love garlic toast but don't like using the oven?  No worries, it can be done just as easily without.  Put two slices of bread in the toaster set to medium.  When they come out, place a small pad of butter on each slice.

 To get the butter melted, pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds, then spread.  Sprinkle with jarred garlic. **If you are using real garlic, rub the toast with it and sprinkle it on before placing the butter on top**  Finally, if you like a bit of cheese, sprinkle some of your favorite kind onto the toast and microwave for an additional 5 seconds.



Viola!

Place your spaghetti (or pasta) onto the plate in a healthy mound.  Top with sauce.  If you'd like, place a pad of butter on top.  This will just add a little extra depth to the overall dish.  Sprinkle with cheese if you like.  Then, add the toast and enjoy!!!

Mmmmmm....Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT!

Welcome!

Well, here's the first official post of my new cooking blog!!  I hope everyone enjoys it!  If you have anything you'd like to see done, let me know!  Lots of feedback will help to make this spectacular!!!