Homemade Tomato Sauce

Serve with fresh Basil and Parmesan!

I love tomato sauce! I have always made my own...Why? Because it tastes better and it's ALOT cheaper. I am amazed at the tomato sauces at Whole foods that are $7-$8 for a not so big jar! Yikes! By the time I buy the pasta and meat I might as well go out to eat! Sigh...

This recipe is super easy! Ryan was working late last night and I really needed to make dinner! I have this problem...I feel extremely bad if my kids don't get the best food all the time.  Yes, I know...completely ridiculous! lol! So, I gave the girls some bowls, pans, and spoons to play with in the kitchen floor and I threw some tomato sauce together. I made some rigatoni to go with it- mostly because its the only form of pasta that Olivia likes - Geez 1 year olds! Smh... I also roasted some squash  - the girls LOVE this as well!

Make some sauce...you will LOVE it! If this makes too much for your family, freeze the extras in a ziploc freezer bag or glass jar for later. Enjoy!

Add a little sauce to your cooked pasta after draining water
to prevent the pasta from sticking. Don't use olive oil as it
prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta.
Then serve extra sauce on top! 

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Ingredients 
2 (28 oz) cans of crushed tomatoes - Preferably San Marzano
1 small onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
Salt and Pepper
1 lb. Ground beef, browned (optional)

If using the ground beef, brown in large sauce pan. Transfer beef to a bowl lined with paper towels to drain grease. In same pan add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil and onions and let cook over medium heat. Once onions become translucent (about 5-7 minutes) add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute. Season the onions and garlic with salt (approx 1 tsp) and pepper (approx 2 tsp).  Add the 2 cans of crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and 1/2 c. fresh basil, and cooked ground beef (if using) to the onion mixture.  Stir sauce well to combine. Simmer covered sauce over medium low heat for approx 1 hour. Stir sauce often throughout the hour to prevent sticking.