In our hurried society too many families are turning to processed foods in order to save time in the kitchen. There are tastier and healthier ways to feed your family than simply opening a jar of sauce, boiling some pasta and calling it dinner. Homemade is better for your health, budget-friendly and tastes much better. I learned how to make a quick and delicious tomato sauce a long time ago and since then I have never used a jar of pre-made sauce. And you can add many different flavorings and extras to jazz up your basic recipe. I love the versatility of this recipe.
Whenever I am pressed for time and need a quick meal, pasta is what I usually turn to. One of our favorite sauces is a basic tomato sauce. I always keep a few cans of whole plum tomatoes in my pantry as well as Italian seasonings in my spice rack. Add in a bit of onion, garlic and olive oil and you have a great sauce.

Two 28 oz. cans of whole plum tomatoes (diced tomatoes will do as well)
1 Small can of tomato paste
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1-2 Tsp dried oregano
1-2 Tsp. Dried basil

1 Tsp dried parsley
1 Bay leaf, optional
1 tsp or so of kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
A pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pot or high-sided skillet on medium heat and add onions. Saute’ for about 5 minutes or until they soften. Add in the garlic and cook another minute or two but be careful not to burn the garlic or it will become bitter and ruin your sauce. While the onions are cooking, crush the tomatoes with your hands. Add to the onions and garlic along with the spices. Stir well and add in the can of tomato paste. After about 5 minutes, when the paste is dissolved into the sauce, stir and test for consistency. If you like a thicker sauce leave it to simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat. If you like it thinner, add some water and continue cooking 30 minutes over low heat, stirring a few times. Taste and adjust spices and salt to your liking. Add in the cheese at the end if you want to. Sauce will freeze well or keep in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Optional items to add:
Browned ground beef or pork
Sliced mushrooms
Diced green peppers
Meatballs that have been pre-cooked in the oven

This sauce is very easy to make and very budget-friendly. I encourage you to give it a try this weekend and see if you don’t like the flavor better than the processed jarred sauces the store has to offer. Think of how tasty this is with fresh home-grown tomatoes!