There are two option to get the freshest tomato taste. Option #1: ripe home grown( the best) or store bought tomatoes. This is great especial when tomatoes are getting soft and ready to spoil. First, start with a boiling pot of water and beside it a bowl of cool water. Take your tomatoes and cut an X on both sides and drop them in the pot for 3-5 minutes, or just until the skin starts to peel back slightly, then with a slotted spoon place in the cool water. Once cooled, peel and chop some of the tomatoes for a chunkier sauce, or blend all in a food processor till smooth.

           Option 2: caned tomatoes. This is what I find myself using most often considering the freshest tomatoes make the freshest sauce. Use this to save some time or when the market does not seem to have a good selection. I personal like to use whole Roma tomatoes, hand chopped or blending depending on preference.  Again if this is too much work or you are pressed for time, a can of crushed tomatoes will  suffice.                                                     

       Once tomatoes are ready to go, time to work on our sauce! Using a dry pot, drizzle olive oil once around the bottom. Place on medium heat. Add 2 (or more, depending on your taste) cloves of garlic, minced, to the oil till it begins to brown. Be careful to not to let it burn! Then add in your tomatoes and stir. Once tomato’s are in, tear in a handfuls or two of fresh basil. Add in salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Add about 1/2 cup of water or wine. If sauce begins to thicken up to much add a little more water as it cooks. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a slight boil. Depending on how much your making it will take about 2-3 hours to fully cook. There is no hard fast rule to this, just when ever it no longer tastes raw. Sir occasionally as it is cooking but be careful! Many a burns have been caused by tomatoes sauce leaping out of the pot! Its best to turn off the sauce for a moment before siring and opening the lid away from you. Another great tip is that tomato sauce often taste better the next day! Which makes it a great make ahead dish for party’s and such! Be creative, there are no rules on how much of each ingredient to add, so make it your own. There you have it, a simple classic tomato sauce. Wasn’t that easy?