Forums » Smalltalk » AMA - soon to be sous chef

I'm not as worthless as I thought because I've actually had to make quite a few dishes that would have broken me a few short years ago.

So yeah. Ask anything.


Or don't

What’s your favorite food, my man.

Please drop the best pasta sauce recipe I need it in my life

Of all time? It's a toss-up between tikka masala or steak burrito.

have you ever gotten burned?

-3 large tomatoes, peeled and diced
-1 can tomato paste
-2 cups water
-1 large diced onion
-1 tablespoon garlic salt
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon fennel
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 6 chopped mushrooms
- ½ cup black olives (optional)
- 1 teaspoon sugar (to cut the acidity)


Okay, first you want to add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, 1⅔cup of water, and onion to slow-simmer for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, add ⅔ cup of lukewarm water with the garlic salt, pepper, parsley, basil, fennel, and Italian seasoning and lower the heat to simmer for another half hour and stir it occasionally. Then add the mushrooms and olives and simmer for another 15 minutes.
(You can cook and add 1lb of Italian sausage or 1lb of ground beef if you want.)

(No need to rush. Here's a tip: experiment with different types of large tomatoes because all tomatoes have different tastes. Also, you can adjust water for your desired sauce thickness)

Once you are done with the sauce, stir the sugar in.

Many times, but that was before I got formal training. My worst is catching olive oil splatter to the face

Here's a tip, if you know how to roast tomatoes, do so. It will add a smoky flavor to the sauce.

Is there a particular type of cuisine you specialize in?

Currently Italian

Is that because it is your favorite, or just a happenstance?

Hey VoliminalVerse! Been enjoying your contributions to The Cookbook over in the Modern World group! I have made and used your Garlic Olive Butter Sauce and it is delicious!
He's not wrong! I do that for pasta sauce and for salsa where I also roast the bell peppers and jalapeños.

I should ask a question huh.... What is the worst burn you have gotten while cooking?

Too easy. Olive oil splatter directly to the eye.

About 50/50 both

Do you have a favorite knife?

My entire cutlery set. It's from Cutco. They are balanced, have a lifetime warranty, and they feel comfortable and not like they are about to break. I'm also heavy-handed so they feel durable.

Ouch! I had bacon grease spit in my eye once. was bad.

I was going to ask about knives, but you answered Kim, so...

What do you use and recommend as the best cutting board?
Do you wear gloves when handling hot peppers?

I use plastic because there's less possibility of bacteria that could remain even after cleaning it.

I personally don't, but I know alot of people who do.