Sometimes it’s all too easy to forgo whatever meal plans we have for that evening and just order takeaway.  More specifically pizza.  Pizza because cheese.  My weakness.  Pizza because we’ve found somewhere that delivers pretty good pizzas almost time alteringly fast.  Pizza because Chinese is hella expensive and the vegetarian options tend to be a bit bland.  Pizza because leftovers.

Did you have any dinner plans this evening?  Did all that go out the window now and you’re reaching for your phone to order pizza?

The other thing about takeaway pizza is all that tomato goop.  I love tomato ANYTHING.  Have you ever tried growing your own tomatoes?  Surprisingly easy and the on the stalk smell is out of this world goooooood.  You don’t need to grow your own tomatoes to make this sauce (though I bet it would be even awesomer!) but I love having a great base sauce that is SO simple to make and can be used for so many different things.

Oh and it freezes really well – yay!

Just a few simple (and even optional) ingredients and you’ve got yourself a pot of  ‘just a quick taste to check the seasoning … oh my that’s good, I really should check the seasoning again’.

You can also leave the ‘lumps’ in the sauce or you can blend them out to a smooth sauce.  Personally I prefer it with lumps but I live with a fussy no-lumper so smooth it is.  Which is also perfect for pizza toppings (there’s that word again!)

Looking for some other ideas for how you use your homemade marinara sauce?

Or these cozy night in, comfort food heaven Pizza Jacket Potatoes (am I going to have to start a swear box for the word pizza??)

Or how about these pasta salad jars?  Great for a tasty make ahead lunch – simply layer up some Marinara Sauce with cooked pasta, shredded red onion for a bit of crunchy zing, some feta cheese, some lamb’s lettuce and a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts.  Yu-hum.

All from a little jar of home-made sauce ❤

If you make this recipe or any of the recipes from The Cook & Him we’d LOVE to see! Just snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #thecookandhim and tagging @thecookandhim in the photo itself (as this guarantees we’ll see your picture!)

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram , Facebook or Twitter for even more recipe inspiration and chat, competitions, behind the scenes and so much more!