Pickled Onions

I actually made pickled onions out of boredom one day cause I wanted a different topping for tacos. I really did not realize how easy it truly was to make. I started with a recipe for one onion's worth of deliciousness, but little did I realize how much my husband would actually like these. The following recipe is for a LARGE batch, but can be easily be broken down for smaller portions.

Pickled Onions
3 large red onions, sliced thinly (a mandolin slicer comes in VERY handy for this)
2 cups apple cider vinegar
4 cups of water
2 T coarse sea salt
4 T sugar

Bring vinegar, water, salt, and sugar to a boil. Cook until salt and sugar have dissolved.  Add in onions and boil for just a minute or two. Remove from heat and cover pot. Let sit for about 15-20 mins, then enjoy.  Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for about a week. However, they never last that long in my family.

S'ghetti Sauce

I've gotten to a point in my life where I really just can't tolerate premade/jarred/canned sauces. They are just too sweet, or salty, for my liking. So I just make my own. The measurements of spices is VERY vague because I cook by sight when I'm working with spices. My measurement really is just for ratio purposes. Always start with a little bit, let it warm through, then, if need be, add more. Everyone seems to love both versions of my sauce. Both freeze really well, so I normally end up making a triple batch so it's less work I have to do later. Two birds. One stone. lol

 Basic S'ghetti Sauce
2 large cans of tomato sauce
1 large can of diced tomatoes
~1Tbsp of white cooking wine
minced garlic- i like a lot, but i know some people just like a hint
~1Tbsp Onion Power, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme, and Basil
a dash or two of cayenne pepper - trust me, it's amazing!
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

Optional-
salt & white pepper to taste
~ 2tsp of Rosemary
sauteed onions
sauteed shallots
sauteed mushrooms

Mix everything but the baking soda together. Let it warm through.  Taste the sauce, if it's too acidic (which it tends to be when adding canned diced tomatoes), add about 1/4tsp of sodium bicarbonate.  It will bubble up and be a little foamy for a while. It will cook down, I promise! After it looks like regular sauce again, taste it again. If it's still too acidic, repeat the sodium bicarbonate. If you add too much, the sauce will seem sweet.

Deluxe S'ghetti Sauce 
Same as above but err on the side of the sauce being under seasoned at first. Add in 1/2lb- 1lb of browned ground beef, mild Italian Sausage, and diced pepperoni stick. Simmer these in your sauce for about 20mins or so. Taste it and adjust seasonings accordingly.