How to Make Tomato Sauce Posted: 15 Jan 2022 04:00 PM PST Tomato sauce is a yummy and versatile ingredient that you can add to pasta, rice, soups, and other dishes and appetizers. Making your own is a great way to preserve extra tomatoes from the garden, and a great way to get a dose of vitamins and nutrients in winter when tomatoes aren't growing. A basic sauce is easy to make and can be used as a base for other things, but you can also make variations that include vegetables and other ingredients. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Basic Tomato Sauce - 15 pounds (6.8 kg) ripe tomatoes
- ½ cup (119 ml) red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons (12 g) salt
[Edit]Tomato Primavera Sauce - 10 ripe tomatoes, stemmed
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (6 g) fresh basil, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 g) Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup (59 ml) Burgundy wine
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) tomato paste
[Edit]Arrabbiata Sauce - 3 tablespoons (57 g) salt
- ½ cup (119 ml) olive oil
- ½ cup (113 g) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) hot red-pepper flakes
- 1½ cups (300 g) tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml) hot water
[Edit]Basic Tomato Sauce - Collect your supplies and ingredients. Basic tomato sauce is made with just a few ingredients. To make this easy and versatile sauce, you'll need all your ingredients, plus:
- Small knife
- Large pot
- Large bowl filled with ice water
- Slotted spoon
- Large mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Mixing spoon
- Sterilized jars and lids for storage
- Stem the tomatoes. With a small knife, cut the stem from the tomatoes by cutting an angled hole around the stem, about a half inch (13 mm) deep. Pop the stem out of the tomato.
- To prepare the tomatoes for blanching, cut a small and shallow X in the bottom of each one.
- Blanch the tomatoes. Blanching means to boil something for a brief time and then drop it into ice water to stop the cooking process. Blanching helps to make vegetables more vibrant in color, and makes them easier to peel. To blanch the tomatoes:[1]
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Fill a large bowl with equal amounts of ice and water.
- When the water is boiling, boil the tomatoes in batches of four or five. Leave each batch in for 45 seconds to a minute, until the skin begins to split.
- Remove the tomatoes with the slotted spoon and drop them immediately into the ice bath. After about 30 seconds, remove the tomatoes from the ice bath with the slotted spoon and transfer them to a mixing bowl.
- Repeat until you have blanched all the tomatoes.
- Peel and chop the tomatoes. Use your fingers to peel the skin off the tomatoes. It should peel off easily, thanks to the blanching process. Discard the skins and transfer the tomatoes to a food processor or blender.[2]
- Pulse the tomatoes a few times until you achieve the desired consistency for your sauce. You can leave the sauce chunky, or continue pureeing until it's smooth.[3]
- If you don't have a food processor or blender, you can chop the tomatoes into small pieces with a knife.
- If you like to seed your tomatoes to try to get a smoother sauce, now is the time.
- Cook the tomatoes. Transfer the tomatoes to a large pot. Heat them over medium heat and bring them to a simmer. For a thinner and runnier sauce, simmer the tomatoes for about 30 minutes. For a thicker and richer sauce, simmer for 90 minutes. For a sauce that's between thick and runny, simmer for about an hour.
- While the sauce is simmering, you can also add a few other ingredients for flavor, such as a few cloves of minced garlic, a bay leaf, or a couple sprigs of fresh basil or oregano.[4]
- Add the remaining ingredients. When the sauce has reached the desired consistency, add the red wine vinegar and salt. You can add as much or as little salt as you like, to taste, and can also substitute lemon juice for the vinegar.
- The extra acid from the vinegar will act as a preservative if you want to can the sauce or keep it in the fridge.
- To turn your basic tomato sauce into vodka sauce, portion out 4 cups (900 g) of the tomato sauce, and heat it with 1 cup (237 ml) of vodka and ½ cup (119 ml) of heavy cream.[5]
- Use immediately or store for later. If you're going to use the sauce within one to two weeks, transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze the sauce for up to three months, or can the sauce to keep it preserved for about a year.
- To can the sauce, transfer the hot sauce to hot, sterile mason jars. Fit each jar with a clean lid and ring. Process the jars in a pot of boiling water for 30 minutes. Remove from the water and cool for 12 to 24 hours.[6]
[Edit]Tomato Primavera Sauce - Blanch and peel the tomatoes. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. While the water is heating up, fill a large bowl with equal quantities of cold water and ice. When the water boils, place the tomatoes into the pot and boil them for about a minute, long enough to loosen and wrinkle the skins. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the ice water.[7]
- Leave the tomatoes in the cold water for 30 seconds to a minute. This will stop the cooking process immediately and cool the tomatoes.
- Blanching makes it easier to peel fruits and vegetables.
- Chop and puree the tomatoes. Peel the skin off the tomatoes with your fingers. If you want, you can also squeeze the seeds out if you don't want them in the sauce. Transfer eight of the tomatoes to a blender and puree them until smooth.
- With the remaining two tomatoes, chop them roughly into small chunks.
- Cook the vegetables. Melt the oil and butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, pepper, carrot, and garlic. Sauté for five to 10 minutes, until the onions turn translucent and begin to turn golden brown.
- You can substitute any or all of the green pepper for red, yellow, or orange pepper.
- You can also add five to 10 chopped mushrooms to the sauce, a chopped zucchini, or a small head of broccoli, chopped.
- Add the remaining ingredients except for the tomato paste. Pour in the tomato puree, the chopped tomatoes, all the herbs, the wine, and the two whole celery stalks. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat.
- The celery stalks don't need to be chopped because you will remove them from the sauce before serving.
- Simmer the sauce and add the tomato paste halfway through. When the sauce comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and place a lid on the pot. Simmer the sauce for about two hours, then add the tomato paste.[8]
- Stir in the tomato paste and continue simmering the sauce for another two hours.
- You don't have to simmer the sauce for the full four hours, but cooking it for the full length of time will yield a thick, rich, and flavorful sauce.
- Cooking the sauce for one to two hours will result in a sauce that's slightly runnier and not quite as rich.
- Remove the celery and bay leaf before serving. When the sauce has simmered for four hours or the desired amount of time, remove the celery stalks with a pair of tongs, and use a slotted spoon to remove the bay leaf.
- Serve the sauce hot with pasta, rice, or vegetables.
[Edit]Arrabbiata Sauce - Cook the tomato paste and pepper flakes. Arrabbiata is a quick and easy tomato sauce. It's spicier than some other tomato sauces, and it's slightly richer because you cook the tomato paste right in the oil.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. You'll be adding the tomatoes to this, so use a pan with high walls.
- Add the tomato paste and hot pepper flakes to the hot oil.
- Turn the heat to low and stir all the ingredients together. Cook the mixture for about four minutes.[9]
- Add the tomatoes and water. Pour the tomatoes in to the frying pan with the tomato paste. Stir to combine, and then remove the pan from the heat. Pour in the hot water and stir everything to combine.
- You can also use red wine in place of the water.[10]
- It's best to make this sauce fresh while you're making the pasta to serve it with. When you cook the pasta, reserve ¼ cup (59 ml) of the water when you drain the pasta, and use that to add to the arrabbiata sauce.
- Because pasta water has some leftover starch from the pasta, it will help to thicken the sauce.
- Serve tossed with pasta. Add cooked pasta to the arrabbiata sauce and toss them together to coat the pasta with the sauce. Garnish with salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and cheese, to taste.[11]
- This sauce recipe is ideal for 4 cups (1 kg) of uncooked pasta.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
How to Make Hot Chocolate Fudge Posted: 15 Jan 2022 08:00 AM PST Combine your love of fudge and hot chocolate by making this simple but delicious hot chocolate fudge. With its sweet taste of chocolate and garnish of marshmallow bits, this treat is sure to delight. Makes: Approx. 10 servings [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Stovetop Hot Chocolate Fudge [1] - 1 (14-ounce or 396 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (175 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (175 grams) milk chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 packet (0.73 ounces) hot chocolate mix
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cup (60 grams) marshmallow bits, divided
[Edit]Microwave Hot Chocolate Fudge [2] - 2 (14 ounces) cans sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 2 packets hot chocolate mix
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup marshmallow bits
[Edit]Stovetop Hot Chocolate Fudge - Cover an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside for later use.
- Place a medium-sized saucepan on a stovetop. Set the stove onto medium-low heat to use for cooking.
- Add the condensed milk, both chocolate chips, and butter into the pan. Mix well with a whisk until fully incorporated.
- Pour in the hot chocolate packet once the chocolate melts. Continue stirring until the powder dissolves into the mixture and the ingredients have fully melted.
- Add a half cup of the marshmallow bits into the mixture. Stir once more and shut off the stove.
- Spread the fudge mixture onto the covered pan. Scrape any remaining mixture using a rubber spatula. Spread around gently.
- Sprinkle the remaining marshmallow bits over the fudge. Gently pat them down so they can stick to the surface of the fudge and not fall off.
- Set the fudge aside to cool and harden. It will usually take about 4-6 hours for the fudge to set and harden completely at room temperature.
- You can speed up the process by placing the fudge to cool in the fridge for about 1-2 hours. [3]
- Serve. Slice the hot chocolate fudge into squares. Place on a serving plate and garnish with extra marshmallows if desired. Enjoy!
[Edit]Microwave Hot Chocolate Fudge - Cover an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside for later use.
- Place the semisweet chocolates in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. Stir every few seconds to prevent the chocolate from scorching. It will usually take a full minute for the chocolate to melt. [4]
- Add one can of the condensed milk and the packets of hot chocolate mix. Mix well until fully combined. Set aside.
- In a separate microwave-safe bowl, microwave the white chocolate chips. Mix every few seconds to prevent scorching. Continue stirring until the chocolate melts.
- Pour the remaining can of condensed milk. Stir once more until properly combined.
- Add the hot chocolate fudge layer onto the pan. Spread it all around with a rubber spatula.
- Layer the white chocolate fudge on top. Spread it around and gently pat it down.
- Sprinkle the remaining marshmallow bits over the fudge. Gently pat them down so they can stick to the surface of the fudge and not fall off.
- Set the fudge aside to cool and harden. It will usually take about 4-6 hours for the fudge to set and harden completely at room temperature.
- You can speed up the process by placing the fudge to cool in the fridge for about 1-2 hours. [5]
- Serve. Slice the hot chocolate fudge into squares. Place on a plate and garnish with extra marshmallows if desired. Enjoy!
- Crushed peppermint candies can also be added on top of the hot chocolate fudge for a winter-themed look and taste.
- Store and chill the fudge in an airtight container so it can last about a week. [6]
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid cooking the chocolate for too long or it will burn.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Stovetop Method - Stovetop
- Parchment paper
- 8 x 8-inch pan
- Saucepan
- Rubber spatula
- Whisk
- Knife
- Serving plate
[Edit]Microwave Method - Microwave
- Microwave-safe bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Spoon
- 8 x 8-inch pan
- Parchment paper
- Knife
- Serving plate
[Edit]References |
How to Paint Stucco Posted: 15 Jan 2022 12:00 AM PST If you want your home to be the envy of the neighborhood, few exterior finishes stand out quite like painted stucco. The unique texture of stucco combined with the uniform finish of your paint is sure to raise some eyebrows. Unfortunately, stucco tends to absorb and hold on to moisture, and it needs time to breathe and dry out after heavy rains. This means that you're probably better off leaving your stucco unpainted if you live in an area with a lot of precipitation, since paint can make it even harder for stucco to dry out. Just keep that in mind before you start breaking out the painting supplies! [Edit]Can you paint stucco? - Yes, but make sure you don't have moisture problems first. The biggest problem with stucco is that it doesn't breathe very well, so it tends to break down over time as it absorbs more and more water. Before you go ahead with painting, wait for it to rain. Then, 24-48 hours after it rains, inspect your stucco. If you see any darker patches, that's water in your wall that still hasn't dried out yet. It's not a good idea to paint stucco if it's already struggling to release moisture.[1]
- A lot of professional contractors believe that painting stucco will make moisture-related problems worse over time, since another layer of material on top of the stucco can lock water in for longer.[2]
- Painting your stucco is more likely to be a good idea if you live in a hot, dry area. If you live in a more temperate climate with frequent rain, this is not a recommended route.
[Edit]How do I repair cracks before painting? - Use masonry caulk to fill in cracks smaller than . For really minor cracks and gaps, buy a tube of masonry caulk. Insert it into your caulk gun and clip the tip off with a pair of scissors. Apply a bead of the masonry caulk over the crack, and smooth it over with a gloved finger (you don't need to press hard). Wait at least 24 hours before doing anything else.[3]
- It's natural for a crack or two to develop over time, but if you've got dozens of cracks to fill, it may be time to replace your stucco and you probably shouldn't paint it.[4]
- Fill larger cracks with a patching compound and wait for it to dry. If you have some smaller chunks missing, chip away any loose material around the area with a putty knife. Then, rinse the area with water and use a wire brush to clean away any dust. Use a putty knife to mix a stucco patching compound with water until it's a thick paste. Scoop a chunk of compound up in your putty knife and rub it into the gap you're repairing. Drag your putty knife back and forth over the compound in random directions to replicate the texture of stucco. Keep adding and spreading more compound to the area until it matches the wall around it. Wait for the compound to fully cure.[5]
- This is strictly for small damaged areas that were hit with an object, or bumped against one too many times. If you have big sections of stucco just falling out on their own though, it's time to hire a stucco specialist to redo your exterior.
[Edit]Should I clean stucco before painting? - Yes, start by pressure washing the stucco if it's especially dirty. If your wall is exceptionally dirty, power wash it first. Set your pressure washer to the lowest pressure setting and use a wide-spray tip. Spray down each section of the stucco to remove any dust, dirt, and debris. Keep the wand moving to avoid putting too much pressure in any one location. Wait for the stucco to dry out completely[6]
- If you use a higher pressure setting or a thinner nozzle, you may damage the stucco. You may also damage the stucco if just hold the wand in one spot for too long.
- If you see any chalky, white dust on the stucco, that's efflorescence. Scrub all of that stuff off with a wire brush or mix a masonry soap into your pressure washer's tank before using it. If you paint over efflorescence, it's going to reappear over time.[7]
- Finish with a stiff brush or broom to clean the wall thoroughly. Grab a large, stiff brush or broom. Working in sections, brush the surface of the stucco to remove any dust or dirt that's built up in the texture of the wall. Cover each section in a combination of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal strokes to ensure you brush the wall from every angle. If your wall extends up to a second floor, use a ladder to get up there and enlist help to hold it steady from the ground while you work.
[Edit]Do I need to prime stucco before painting? - Yes, use a high-quality acrylic masonry primer to help you paint. Do not skimp out by buying the cheap stuff. Stucco's texture makes it hard to fully cover with paint, so take your time priming. Use a synthetic brush to coat the trim in a thick layer of primer. Then, use a large-napped roller to coat the wall by working in vertical strokes. Cover each layer multiple times and drag the roller slowly to ensure that you fully cover every bit of the stucco.
- If the stucco surrounds any windows, doors, gutters, or porches, tape off any areas you want to keep dry and lay down a drop cloth before you get to work.
- It may help to get an extension rod for your roller if part of your stucco extends up to a second floor.
[Edit]What kind of paint do you use on stucco? - Go for high-quality, 100% exterior acrylic paint. Look at your paint here as investment, not an expense. High quality paint is extremely important for stucco. Regardless of how you plan on applying it, purchase a high-end exterior acrylic paint in the color of your choice.[8]
- Use flat acrylic if you want the stucco's texture to stand out, or satin acrylic to give the surface a bit of shine.[9]
- You don't need any special kind of "stucco" paint if you're curious. Regular exterior acrylic should be fine. Just don't go cheap!
- If you have stucco indoors, you can use interior acrylic. Unless you installed the stucco yourself though, it's extremely unlikely that indoor textured wall is actually stucco. The odds are much higher that it's drywall compound.[10]
[Edit]Is it better to spray or roll paint on stucco? - A roller is probably easier for smaller surfaces. If you're just painting a single wall or your home is only one story, it's probably easier to just roll the paint on. Use a synthetic brush to paint the trim, and a thick-nap roller to cover the wider sections. It may take 2 coats to fully cover the surface and achieve a uniform look. Wait at least 24 hours between coats if you necessary.[11]
- You really don't want to use a brush for the entire job. It's just going to take forever and it will be really hard to cover the wall entirely.
- Use a sprayer for larger walls and "backroll" it. For larger walls, buy or rent a paint sprayer. Use a wide nozzle setting and cover each wall using long, vertical strokes. Once you've covered a roughly section with your sprayer, set it down and grab a thick-nap roller. Roll over the section you've just painted to smooth the paint out and spread it around. Keep working like this until you've covered the entire wall in paint.[12]
- You can cut the trim with a synthetic brush if you'd like, or lay down a drop cloth on the floor and hold flat lengths of cardboard against edges you want to keep dry while you paint.
- Cover each area you've painted with a second coat of random strokes after you backroll it. This sounds weird, but stucco has a bunch of different little angles in the texture, so pick the sprayer back up and just sort of randomly spray around the wall in a bunch of different directions. This will fill in any minor spots you missed.[13]
[Edit]How long does painted stucco last? - It really depends on the weather and the quality of your paint. The paint is very unlikely to fade or chip, so the main thing you want to look out for is water damage. If it ever rains and you spot a leak, or moisture starts sweating through your drywall, the paint is locking in too much moisture. If this happens, you need to hire a contractor to remove the stucco, repair the problem, and reapply it. If this happens, you'll need to paint the stucco again.[14]
- This is the main reason most people don't paint stucco outside of hot and dry areas. It can be extremely expensive to repair this kind of issue, and the repaired stucco may not match the rest of your home all that well.
- If you know the brand of stucco that was used on your home, contact the manufacturer to see if there is an ideal type of paint to use based on how they design their product.[15]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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