Sassy Mama: Italian Tomato Sauce

Sassy Mama is cooking up an Italian favorite!

Italian Style Tomato Sauce:

1. 10 fresh tomatoes, cut into quarters
2. 1 teaspoon sea salt
3. ½ teaspoon pepper
4. 1 teaspoon dried basil
5. 2 teaspoon dried oregano
6. 4 cloves garlic, minced
7. 3 tablespoons olive oil
8. Fresh basil
9. *1-2 teaspoon sugar
10. **Dried red pepper flakes to taste for a spicier sauce

Place the tomatoes in a non-metal large saucepan and cook on high for 8 minutes. Remove the tomatoes from the pot and put them in a food processor or blender. Pulse till smooth. Pour the tomatoes through a fine mesh trainer into a large bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press the tomatoes through the strainer. Throw out the leftover tomato skins and seeds. Pour the tomato juice back into the saucepan. Stir in salt, pepper, basil, oregano, garlic, and olive oil. Simmer the sauce with the lid OFF for 45 minutes - 1 hour or until the sauce reduces by 50 percent. Taste ½ way through and add seasonings as needed. For easy storage: use quart-size Ziploc bags. Add some fresh basil to the bag before pouring in the sauce. Seal well, label the outside with a sharpie, and lay flat on the counter to cool before freezing. Lay flat in the freezer for future use.

*Sometimes if the sauce is too acidic I add a teaspoon of sugar.

**For a spicier sauce add red pepper flakes to taste.