Tomato Sauce for the Simple Minded

by du Bois
Miami Beach

Well, if my ears didn't fail me it seems as if President Bush got through the whole Inaugural Speech yesterday without uttering the word "Iraq". No use being at war if you can't talk about it. But, then, if you are losing the war maybe it would be wise to talk about something else like liberty or perhaps just tomato sauce. A good, simple tomato sauce is just what the people need, not all this talk about Iraq.


Tomato Sauce for the Simple-Minded

This is a basic recipe for tomato sauce. It will be referenced later when expanded upon. And if I don't hear from du Barry we will expand upon it very quickly. OK, we know that jarred tomato sauce if readily available, but this home-prepared recipe takes only minutes to prepare and offers a significant improvement in taste. Jarred tomato sauce may suffice for dinner alone, but think of your guests and they will applaud your effort.

Use a 28-ounce can of Progresso crushed tomatoes. The only other ingredients for the base are extra-virgin olive oil (or butter), 5 garlic cloves (you really can never have too many. They give life to most foods and are healthy for you, too.), a small onion, and salt and black pepper (ground, please). Also, if your grandmother made her own sauce you might remember her adding sugar to cut the acidity.

Slice and chop the onion and mince the garlic. You can crush the cloves with the side of your chef's knife, but there's nothing wrong with having a mincer around the kitchen. Set them aside. Don't skimp on the oil or butter or the sauce will be soupy. Since you don't cook like this every day ignore caloric worries and enjoy the moment. Simmer six tablespoons of oil or half a stick of butter in a large sauce pan over a medium heat and add the onions first and the garlic one minut later. In about four minutes the onions will be soft, the garlic will sizzle, and the can of tomatoes can be added. Continue simmering for 15 minutes and add the pinch of sugar, ground pepper and salt to taste. Remember to stir and taste. This is the base of all tomato sauces and it is simple and quick to prepare. Fill a gravy boat with some sauce, set aside for topping at the dinner table, and add your cooked pasta to the sauce pan, stirring in.

War, what war?