Tomato Sauce

Maybe I was a fat Italian woman in a previous life, stirring my tomato sauce. It is a wonderful comfort food and I love to make tomato sauce.

You can use your favorite tomato sauce recipe (if you do, slice rather than mince the garlic for more flavor) or use mine: Mince an onion, a carrot and a celery stick and saute in a tablespoon or so of olive oil until soft. Add 2 or 3 peeled, thinly sliced garlic cloves for 30 seconds then add a 28 ounce can of tomatoes, some fresh or dried oregano and/or basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, simmer for 20 minutes or longer. Now, some ideas for changing that sauce:

√ Add red pepper flakes when you add the onion for a spicy sauce.

√ Brown some ribs with the vegetables.

√ Add good Italian sausage, either broken up in bulk or sliced, with the vegetables, stir to brown.

√ Canned tomatoes a bit sour? Add a tablespoon or so of sugar to the sauce.

√ Stir a tablespoon or three of cream or milk into the sauce about 5 minutes before done.

√ Substitute sage or marjoram for the oregano. Or a little dill for a sweeter taste.

√ Drain the tomatoes and use fish broth; and add cooked shrimp to final sauce.

√ Add a little good quality chili powder with the vegetables for a hint of bbq flavor.

√ Add minced pancetta or bacon with vegetables and stir.

√ Add red wine once the vegetables are soft and boil until almost dry for a softer sauce.

√ Saute minced anchovies with the garlic.

√ Mash a ripe avocado into the sauce just before serving, great over chicken.

√ Boil 2 or 3 pablano chilies with 4 or 5 tomatillos until soft, puree with 2 cups tomato sauce. Boil in a hot skillet for a Mexican sauce for enchiladas or other dishes.

√ Add fresh minced fennel with the vegetables; good on beef with lemon zest stirred in.

√ Saute mushrooms and stir into the finished sauce.

√ Stir fresh basil into the finished sauce.

√ Mince a bell pepper and add with the vegetables.

√ Cool sauce, place some in a bowl and add sour cream, lemon juice and zest to taste for a dip.

√ Turn it into bbq sauce. To two cups of tomato sauce add a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, some lemon juice, a tablespoon of mustard, two tablespoons brown sugar, some pineapple juice and Tabasco ... all ingredients +/- to taste. Cook everything together for 20 minutes.

For great spice blends: www.myspicekitchen.com