My FIRST Meatless Sauce Crock Pot Recipe

In this past post (click here) I wrote about how I plan my meals by the month.  I just finished planning out August.  If any of you would like a copy of my menu just email me and I will send the attachment to you.  It takes me about an hour and a half or two sittings and all I need are a few cooking magazines, my own recipe basket, and the pasts month's plan so that I don't repeat any meals that didn't work well, or I repeat meals that were delicious.  If you plan your meals this way you learn a lot about your family's eating habits, their favorites, their likes/dislikes, and you can plan ahead better when food shopping.

For example this month I learned that John loved Linguine with Clam Sauce (click here for the recipe).  I also learned that Suzette's Shepherd's Pie at Joy of Homemaking lasts about 3 nights in our home and John has a quick easy lunch meal for two days. So I might make a Shepherd's Pie on a Thursday or Friday to stretch to the weekend next time, and I'll make sure to add Linugine with Clam Sauce for August since this month it was such a hit with John and the kids.

This month (June) I had a new crock pot recipe from my Family Circle magazine (a great go to cooking magazine for my planning time) In the January 2011 issue on page 138 I got this Hearty Meatless Sauce recipe.  And I was so excited to try it out.

Crock Pot: Hearty Meatless Sauce

Makes 8 Servings
Prep 15 minutes (tops! so easy)
Slow cook 2 1/2 on High or 4 hours on Low

1 Large Green pepper, sedded and finely chopped
1 Large onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cans (28 ounces each) whole plum tomatoes in puree
1 package (12 ounces) soy crumbles
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

****** in a separate pot
 cook your spaghetti noodles as normal

Directions:

1. Stir together pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, soy crumbles, vinegar, dried basil, sugar and salt in slow cooker, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon.  Cover and cook on High for 2 1/2 hours or Low for 4 hours.

2. Add your cooked spaghetti and top with fresh basil and parsley.

I served with fresh Parmesan cheese on top and warm Italian bread!  The soy crumbles were delicious!  I did find the green pepper flavor strong, next time I will use a half of a green pepper, but everything else was delicious and cooking the sauce in the crock pot made the whole house smell like an Italian restaurant!  It was a great night to have company over!  And my lovely guest enjoyed this new meal as well and she wasn't even a green pepper fan, and loved the sauce!