Spaghetti Sauce

I LOVE spaghetti sauce. As a matter of fact, I love it so much, I could forgo the pasta and just eat the sauce. This is a simple marinara sauce with no meat. It does take a while, but it makes A LOT. I usually freeze in 1 qt containers so that I can use in recipes later. One thing I'd like to try next time I defrost a batch is to add 1 cup cream and puree to make a tomato soup and have with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. MMMMMMMMMMMMM...Winter is coming!!!


Spaghetti Sauce

2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium onion, small dice
1 medium green pepper, small dice
5 cloves of garlic, minced
salt & pepper
6 28 oz cans crushed or pureed tomatoes
1/4 Cup Italian seasoning blend
2 bay leaves
3 tbs spicy mustard
3 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs GOOD tomato paste


Sweat onion, green pepper and garlic in the 2 tbs of olive oil. When translucent, add the 6 cans of tomatoes. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Add italian seasoning, bay leaves, mustard, sugar and tomato paste. Incorporate well. Allow to simmer about 2 hours before tasting. Stir often to avoid scorching the bottom. At the 2 hour mark, taste it and adust seasons (salt, pepper, sugar, garlic, etc). If you add more spices or adjust, allow one more hour for cooking. If perfect, you can stop here!

At this point, I separate out into 6 1 qt containers for freezing.

When I thaw I use it the following ways:

1. Brown 1 lb. ground meat (beef, chicken, turkey) add thawed sauce and warm up. Serve over favorite pasta.

2. Brown 1 lb of chicken breast strips, add 1 green pepper, 1 onion (both sliced in strips), add sauce and simmer until peppers & onions are soft. YUMMY Chicken Cacciatore. Okay, i call it Chicken Kristadorey b/c that's my maiden name....but that's an aside! :D

3. Brown 1 lb. ground meat (see above). Add sauce, 1 can of drained beans (kidney, red, etc). Add 3 tbs chili powder. Bring to boil, reduce and simmer until well flavored. Serve over rice with cheese.

4. Tomato soup as stated above - I have NOT tried this one yet, but I think I will be giving it a try soon!!!