Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

All this warm weather has had me wanting for summer foods.  So I did the best I could with my winter ingredients and tried to indulge myself.  It worked. 

Homemade Marinara Sauce

Making your own marinara could not be easier.  Its such a versatile product, too.  You can use it for any pasta dish, a soup base, or just for dipping bread.  I made it for lasagna.  I'll post that recipe later. 

Heat some olive oil in a medium sauce pan and saute some minced garlic and minced onions until they are soft and translucent.

Then add the tomatoes.  You can use fresh Roma tomatoes (those seem to have the right flavor and texture for marinara) or canned tomatoes.  I used some tomatoes that I canned from my garden last summer.  Either open the cans or chop them up fresh.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce - aka "Meat's Ball"

I know, I know.  Why bother when its so easy to crack open a jar of Ragu?  I'll tell you why.  Because its TOTALLY worth it and its a super-cinch!

But before we begin, I must apologize here.  I didn't take any pictures to accompany this recipe.  Partly because I was in a hurry to throw it together since I literally ran through the door to the stove after a grueling gymnastics session (in which I was not a participant, obviously, but my youngest and I watch my oldest through the glass and then she proceeds to imitate her sister's moves in my lap), and partly because I initially had no intention of posting the recipe here.  But I've since changed my mind because of the sheer wonderfulness, awesomeness, deliciousness MAGNIFICANCE of what came to be in that skillet!  And the best part is, it was fast and made from stuff I always have around.    

So, as a friendly guesture to you all for having botched the picture recipe, I've chosen to substitute pictures with a lively story.  I hope you'll indulge me. 
I've entitled this recipe "Meat's Ball"
Let us begin.