HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE 1 large (24oz) can crushed tomatoes 1 large (24oz) can whole Italian pear tomatoes 5 cloves garlic 1 or 2 large onions, thinly sliced 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 small hot pepper, seeds removed 1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon oregano 2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced 1/2 cup red wine (Marsala or Merlot) or 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional) salt and pepper, to taste

Remove skins from sausage and combine with ground beef in a heavy skillet with onions, peppers, garlic and olive oil. Brown over medium high heat, moving the whole cloves of the garlic to the sides if they begin to brown too quickly. When the meat has browned, mash the cloves of garlic into the olive oil. Stir in the tomatoes, add half of the herbs and simmer the sauce from 30 minutes to 2 hours, as desired, on low heat. If you will be cooking this for the longer period of time, save one of the cans of tomato to add during the last 30 minutes in order to retain a fresher tomato taste. Add the wine and/or vinegar during the last 15 minutes of the cooking, along with the second half of the herbs.

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding salt and pepper or other seasonings as desired. If the sauce is too thick, add more wine or water, but if the sauce is too thin, cook a little longer until it reaches the desired consistency.

Submitted by: CM

#homemade #tomato #sauce