Basic Tomato Sauce

From Simply in Season

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 carrots, shredded

• ½ sweet pepper, chopped

• 2 bay leaves

• ¼ c. fresh parsley, chopped

• 2 TB fresh basil, chopped

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 6 c. plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped

• 6 oz. Tomato paste

• 1 TB honey, if desired

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until lightly browned.

2. Add carrots, pepper, and herbs. Stir well.

3. Add tomatoes, paste, honey, and salt & pepper. Simmer 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve or freeze.

4. To can, ladle into hot sterilized pint jars to within ½ inch of the top, add 1 TB lemon juice or vinegar per pint to assure acidity, seal with sterilized lids, and process full jars in boiling water bath for 35 minutes.

Makes 3 pints.