Favorite Spaghetti Sauce.

I picked out a cookbook from Barnes & Noble a few months ago, titled Comfort Classics, that seemed to have some simple, healthy, delicious recipes inside.  And it definitely does.  I haven't used very many of the recipes yet, but the one I have used over and over again is a recipe for spaghetti sauce.  It's so flavorful! And it's Mister Brandt's favorite.

Spaghetti Sauce- makes 6 servings

1 cup finely chopped onions

1 cup chopped crimini mushrooms

2 tsp. minced or chopped garlic

2- 15 oz cans tomato sauce

2- 6 oz cans tomato paste

1- 14.5 oz can petite vine-ripened tomatoes, diced and including liquid

1 Tbs. sugar

2 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 tsp. salt (optional)

1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

1 bay leaf

• Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and mushrooms and saute for about 5 minutes.  Stir in the garlic and saute for a minute longer.
• Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes (with liquid), sugar, oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.  Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the saucepan, and cook for 30 minutes.

What I love about recipes and cooking is that you can easily change things up to make them work for you.  Neither Mister Brandt or I like mushrooms, so those were gone.  If I have some tomato sauce I use it, but most often I just use jars of spaghetti sauce, since that's what I always have on hand.  I also always have a container of cherry tomatoes, so instead of using canned tomatoes I just cut up some fresh ones.  So far they have been delicious.  Sometimes I'll brown some ground beef and let that simmer with the sauce.  Just make it work for you!

This recipe also includes oven-baked meatballs, which I made once and were quite tasty.  So if you want that recipe just let me know.  Mmmm spaghetti!