Fr. Caserta's Cooking Corner
Our retired/associate pastor, Reverend Angelo C. Caserta is known for his famous pasta sauce and meatballs, not to mention many other delicious recipes. Here you see him hard at work preparing meatballs!
Father has allowed us to publish some of his favorite recipes for your culinary enjoyment. Periodically we will feature a different recipe. Please check back for updates of Fr. Caserta’s delicious recipes.
Pasta Sauce
Everyone who makes pasta sauce feels that he or she has the best recipe. The difference lies in the kinds and amounts of ingredients used in making the sauce. This is Father Caserta’s secret:
- 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 3 tbsp. garlic powder or minced garlic
- 3 tbsp. onion powder
- 3 tbsp. basil
- 2 tbsp. oregano
- 1 cup fresh parsley
- 1 diced medium onion
- 6 oz. extra virgin olive oil
- 6 oz. of a semi sweet wine (like zinfandel)
Cook on low to medium low heat for at least 4 to 6 hours. (Diced green peppers and sliced mushrooms are optional, but highly recommended. If using mushrooms first sauté them in olive oil for 15 minutes.) Use of mixed Italian spices not recommended!
Meatballs
Meatballs could be ½ pork sausage and ½ ground round or sirloin, or all-beef, or all-sausage; the all sausage meatballs seem to many the best! yet to others the ½ and ½! yet to others the all-beef. When using sausage (hot or regular) Bob Evans is highly recommended. For best results:
- 2 lbs. of one of the above meat options
- 1 egg
- 10 oz. (by volume, not weight) parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Old Bay spice
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- ½ tsp pepper
- (Optional 2 tsp anise seeds or powder)
No bread crumbs used (the Italians used bread because of the high price of meat!). Before putting meatballs in the sauce, bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°; place in sauce about 1 hour before serving (by cooking any longer meatballs lose much of their flavor). Enjoy!
If you make your own pizza or if you buy frozen pizza, try some of the above sauce on it!