My roommate called my 'fancy' pasta sauce 'just ketchup with extra steps'

I was making my go-to cheap dinner, which is pasta with a sauce I make from a can of crushed tomatoes, a squirt of ketchup, and some dried herbs. I thought it was a gourmet hack, you know? My roommate watched me for a minute and said, 'Jade, that's just warm ketchup with extra steps and you spent 45 minutes on it.' I was so mad, but he was right. Now I just simmer the tomatoes with garlic powder and a pinch of sugar for 10 minutes, and it's way better and faster. Anyone have a better super simple sauce trick that isn't just dressed-up ketchup?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_bailey21mo ago

It's crazy how often the "extra steps" version of something is actually worse. Your roommate did you a favor.

derek_dixon781mo ago

Sometimes those extra steps force you to slow down and do it right. A quick fix can just break again next week. Taking the longer route often builds in a durability the shortcut misses. Your roommate might have just traded a temporary win for a future headache.