Marinara Sauce

           Making a homemade marinara sauce is so simple and easy to make. Sure you can
           buy a jar sauce and it's good. But once you make your own sauce...it just seems
           to make any Italian dish better. It makes a perfect base for your meatballs, spaghetti,
           lasagna, every thing tastes better with homemade sauce.

           This recipe makes a big batch and it freezes beautifully in airtight containers.

                                                                         Marinara Sauce

                                                      4 tablespoons olive oil
                                                      2 ( 28 ounce ) can crushed tomatoes ( san marzano )
                                                      1 ( 28 ounce ) can tomato sauce
                                                      1 ( 28 ounce ) can whole tomatoes, crush with hands
                                                      1 onion, chopped
                                                      7 cloves of garlic, minced
                                                      1/2 can of water
                                                      2 tablespoons tomato paste ( optional )
                                                      8 basil leaves, torn
                                                      1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
                                                      1/2 teaspoon oregano
                                                      1 1/2 teaspoon salt
                                                      1 teaspoon pepper
                                                      1 tablespoon sugar
                                                      1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
                                                      a dash of garlic powder and onion powder - optional


       1) Heat olive oil in a large pot and cook onions until almost done and add your garlic
       and cook for 1 minute, add tomato paste salt pepper and stir well. Add your tomatoes
       and the rest of the ingredients and cook for 45 minutes. Taste and adjust your -
       seasoning as needed.

       Note - this would be great for Sunday " Gravy " aka sauce. Add your favorite
       sausage, meatballs, or add meat for a great meat sauce. The sky is the limit.