That is awesome! I actually go to a farmers market where the tomato man will sell me for less than half price all his leftover tomatoes from the Friday and Saturdays market. He is not there on Sunday.
I make my marinara from that and some will get meat, some not, but will get my fresh clams that we get at the Shore. I love seafood pasta. I have to agree that the generics use too much sugar and salt and preservatives!! Holy Moly!!
I make batches of the marinara and jar some and freeze others. We are so spoiled though. We have never bought premade sauce ever, I have never even eaten it. Not that it is a bad thing, but my mom never bought it and so, I never thought of it as an option.
No premade sauce ever? You're a lucky one. You have all the great connections too, fresh made is the best type. I do it once in awhile if I get a great deal on a lot of tomatoes and the press gets a nice workout 🙂
Never, but just like anything else that is second nature, it didn't seem strange, it just was. We do make our own pasta, not always, but on special occasions. I wish it was always. But only so many hours in a day. My brothers even know how to make their own, so their wives have made it their job.:))
Check out your farmer's markets. They like to find a home for unsold/damaged produce. They don't travel well. Great for salsa too!