4 Large, and Ripe Tomatoes
3 large garlic cloves, diced
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup good red wine (I used a cabernet sauvignon)
1 T. Dried Oregano
2 T. White Sugar
2 T. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Sprigs of Fresh Thyme (I used 4 sprigs)
Fresh Basil (approximately 8 leaves) - chopped
Red Pepper Flakes(to your liking - I used a good bit to make mine spicy)
Boil a large pot of water. Take your tomatoes and score the bottom of them with a cross. Reduce your water to a simmer and add your tomatoes for 30 seconds (literally). Take them out and let them cool enough for you to handle them. Peel the tomatoes from the incision you made. Chop the tomatoes up.
Drain your pot and put it back on the stove. Add your olive oil over low to medium heat and add your onion. Saute for a few minutes and add in garlic & red pepper flakes. Get this just good and softened. (don't burn your garlic). Add in your sugar, oregano, red wine, and salt and pepper. Let the flavors mesh for about 2 minutes and burn down some of the alcohol. Add in your fresh tomatoes and reduce the heat to low - put a lid on there and let it simmer for an hour to an hour and a half. Keep watch over your sauce and add in 1/4 cup amounts of broth as needed. Add in your fresh basil and thyme and use a hand blender to puree your sauce to a desired thickness. Taste your sauce and adjust the amount of salt/pepper you'd like.
I served this with a whole wheat pasta and turkey meatballs. You will never want to eat jarred sauce again - it is so good!!!
Turkey Meatballs:
2 lbs Ground Turkey
6 slices of Whole Wheat Bread
2/3 cup Skim Milk
2 Eggs, beaten
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2 T. Ketchup
1 Small Onion – Diced
2 Cloves Garlic – finely diced
1 T. Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp. Oregano
½ tsp Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes (as desired) 1/4 to ½ tsp.
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until
softened. Add in salt, oregano, pepper and red pepper flakes.
In a bowl, pour the milk over slices of bread and let it
soak in. Take your wooden spoon and chop up the softened bread into pieces. Add
in egg, parmesan cheese, turkey, ketchup and onion/garlic mixture (slightly cooled). Spray a cookie
sheet with spray to keep the balls from sticking. Use an ice cream scoop to
make perfect size meatballs and put on the sheet. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes
or until browned and completed cooked through. Enjoy!
