Today is the last day of our pantry challenge, Praise God! I really need to remember to make February my pantry challenge month next year. 
My little guy requested spaghetti tonight and I was out of homemade canned spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. The only tomato products I had on hand were diced tomatoes and catsup. Undeterred, I set out to make my little boy spaghetti.
The last week I have had to make quite a few substitutions when making dinner and to be honest, the last couple nights I have just been making stuff up! Pantry spaghetti sauce is an example of a recipe that I just made up as I went along. I am sharing it, not because I think it is the best spaghetti sauce ever, but as an example of how you can make do with what you have on hand if you choose to.
This is what I came up with…
Ingredients:
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 onion diced
4 cloves garlic, mined
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cans diced tomatoes with juice
2 – 3 tablespoons catsup
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon basil
2 teaspoons parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
Brown hamburger with onions, garlic, and celery.
Drain excess fat. (I used very lean hamburger, so I skipped this step)
Add diced tomatoes with juice, catsup, and spices. Cook over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes.
I warned my family that this was going to taste way different than any spaghetti sauce they have ever had before. I wasted my time working to manage their expectations – they all enjoyed it. This recipe isn’t going to replace my homemade spaghetti sauce made with ingredients fresh from the garden, but it will definitely work in a pinch.
For more recipes visit $5 Dinner Challenge, Tasty Tuesday, and Hearth and Soul Hop.
Pia says
This pasta is really nice. I am hosting Pesto Pasta Nights this week. I would be really happy if you will share this pasta in the event
Presto Pasta Nights No. 201
J L Health 918-836-0565 says
The best meals are made in a pinch. I've made many things from scratch but never spaghetti sauce. Love the recipe and thanks for sharing at the hearth and soul hop.
Christy says
You are a girl after my own heart – spaghetti sauce with ketchup – I love your inventiveness! I have never done a pantry challenge – mostly because my family would revolt, but I do try to at least a couple times a week "shop in the pantry". Thanks for sharing your creative recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop!
Butterpoweredbike says
You know, it just goes to show that some basic cooking skills, resourcefulness, and a sense of adventure can take you a long way in the kitchen. I make up almost all of my recipes, mostly because it's fun. But sometimes, I look around, and I've got a pork chop bone, a carrot, and a some leftover rice, and darn it, I can still find a way to feed people with even that 🙂 Thanks for sharing with the Hearth and Soul hop.
21st Century Housewife© says
This sounds great! If I remember correctly my Mom used to put ketchup in spaghetti sauce in the winter – it really gave a lovely punchy flavour. Thanks for sharing a great store cupboard recipe!
Elsa says
Great idea!! My husband loves spaghetti as well. I always try to impress him with his native dishes (couscous, hummus and so on), but his favorite meals are: spaghetti, hamburgers, steak and chicken fingers! Even when he goes back home to visit, he misses his chicken fingers and spaghetti. hahaha
vickie says
so funny-but sounds very challenging! Looks like a great recipe too!
vickie