AUTHENTIC ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE

For years, I have been making this wonderful Italian Spaghetti sauce handed down for two generations. My grandmother, who I affectionately called Nanny, would grow her own tomatoes and herbs and make her own pasta. I too used to grow my own tomatoes, but as life became busier, canned tomatoes made their way into my kitchen. The taste remains pretty much the same. My family looks forward to my sauce making event because they know we will have sauce for the long haul since I usually make enough to freeze for 6 months! I have scaled down the recipe and hope you will enjoy it as much as family and friends have over the decades. For extra flavor, cook meatballs or pre-browned sausage in the sauce.

Grandma Nanny's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

6 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Large Onions, minced
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Carrot Cut in half lengthwise
4 28-oz. cans peeled tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
2 6-oz. cans tomato paste
2 fresh or dried bay leaves
2 teaspoons basil
1 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons sugar
freshly ground pepper to taste

In a frying pan, heat extra virgin olive oil and gently saute onions and garlic. Place in blender and puree with a one can of tomatoes. Add pureed mixture to large sauce pot. Puree remaining can of tomatoes and tomato paste in blender and add all to the sauce pot.

Add carrot to pot and bring mixture to a boil. Add bay leaves, basil, oregano, sugar and pepper. Reduce heat, cover for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If sauce is too thick, add a small amount of water. Remove bay leaves before serving.

You can easily cut the recipe in half. Enjoy with any kind of pasta or recipe that calls for spaghetti sauce. Don't forget a delicious loaf of bread!

Serves 12 - 16