Spicy Tomato Cream Spaghetti Sauce

This spaghetti sauce comes together really quickly but tastes like it cooked all day.  If you cook the noodles at the same time as the sauce you can do the whole thing in 30 mins, though I do like the sauce to simmer longer if I have time.  :)

1 lb. Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage
1/2 c. finely diced onion
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 TB tomato paste (from a squeeze tube is best but from a can works too)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 small pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional, depending on how spicy you want to go)
1/2 teaspoon coarse, kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
8-ounce can tomato sauce
1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/3 c. heavy cream or half and half
1/4 c. part skim ricotta cheese
parmesan, for serving

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground meat, onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks, until the meat is not longer pink.  Drain any excess grease.

Stir in the tomato paste, basil, oregano, thyme, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for about a minute, until the mixture smells fragrant.  Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce. Stir to combine.  Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes (or as long as you like/need).  Just before serving add in the cream and ricotta and stir until combined and hot.

Serve over hot, cooked noodles (or zoodles!) and top with parmesan. 

Oatmeal Cake

1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Topping
6 TBS butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded coconut

Pour 1 1/2 cup boiling water over oatmeal and let sit for 20 minutes.
Sift flour, soda, salt and cinnamon together. Cream 1 cup brown sugar, sugar, and butter together; beat in eggs. Stir in flour mixture, oatmeal mixture and 1 tsp vanilla. Turn batter into greased 12x8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Melt butter in saucepan; stir in remaining brown sugar, cream, coconut and remaining vanilla. Mix well and spread over hot cake. Broil until topping is bubbly and lightly browned.

Delicious cake from my friend Heather B.