Cooking for Crowds

Cooking-for-CrowdsKids home from college? In-laws in the guest room? Planning your annual holiday open-house? The best way to get your kitchen ready for the crowds is to stock your freezer with the goods. Soups, stews, sauces and casseroles are perfectly freezer friendly. Make a few things (and make 'em supersized) before the hoards arrive, then pack 'em away (in your freezer that is). When guests arrive, simply defrost using your oven, stovetop or microwave. Who knew entertaining could actually be this happy!

Here's a quick and easy supersized pasta sauce that's sure to become a classic in your home. With California Ripe Olives, sausage and spinach this tomato sauce is delicious and a snap to prepare too.

 

Fast Company Pasta Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds Spicy Italian sausage, removed from casings and crumbled
  • 6 cups Prepared marinara sauce or tomato sauce
  • 1 (1 pound) package Frozen chopped spinach
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans California Ripe Olives, whole pitted

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add sausage and brown for 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up into small pieces as it cooks. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Then store in an airtight container and freeze.*

Serves 8-10

* You can also toss this with cooked pasta, place into a casserole dish, top with shredded mozzarella and freeze. Then reheat, covered, in a 400 degree oven.