Handy Pasta Shortcuts and a Wealth of Recipes

Don't get me wrong, I love making my own long, simmering sauces that, not only taste amazing, their fragrance is awesome wafting through the house. But often enough, life is too hectic and, I don't need to mention that once October rolls around, I won't be able to find ripe, delicious tomatoes around here. That's where one of my favorite products comes in handy (by the way...this is a personal endorsement and not a paid ad!). Just as I always have shrimp in the freezer, cured chorizo sausages in the fridge and a wide variety of pastas in my pantry...I also keep a few jars of Classico sauces on hand as well.

They are just so easy to use as a base, a starting point for making your own last minute creation....and they shorten cooking time by at least 3 hours. Last night I made a mushroom ragu with their Roasted Portobello Mushroom Sauce.

And an even better discovery on my part, that I just had to share with you....their website also has tons of awesome recipes from appetizers and soups to magnificent mains. I'm going to be making the Capellini Fritters soon.

Plus there's a great FAQ page...top of my list...although the jars are perfect for storing dried goods...I use mine for rice, dried lentils and beans...they shouldn't be reused for canning.

What's your favorite "shortcut" pasta trick?