Italian Tomato Sauce

Simple tomato and vegetable spaghetti sauce. Can be ready to serve in a little over an hour.

Ingredients -

2 tablespoons Olive or Vegetable Oil
1 large Onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium Green Bell Pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 large cloves Garlic, finely chopped
2 cans (16 ounces each) Whole Tomatoes, undrained
2 cans (8 ounces each) Tomato Sauce
2 tablespoons chopped Fresh or 2 teaspoons Dried Basil Leaves
1 tablespoon chopped Fresh or 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves
1/2 teaspoon Coarse Salt
1/2 teaspoon Fennel Seed
1/4 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Preparation:

1. Add oil to medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until hot.

2. Stirring occasionally, cook onion, bell pepper and garlic until onion is tender.

3. Stir in whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil leaves, dried oregano leaves, salt, fennel seed, and pepper.

4. Break up tomatoes. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low.

5. Cover and simmer 45 minutes.

6. Serve over hot pasta.

Cooking Tip

Add Pasta When Water is Boiling

Hot boiling water sets the outside of the pasta, and prevents the pasta from sticking. So, it is important not to add the pasta to water that is not boiling at a hard boil.

Cooking Tip

Pasta Continues Cooking

Pasta continues cook and soften even after it has been taken from the pasta water. Pasta should be tender but firm when eaten.