* Exported from MasterCook * BASIC PIZZA SAUCE Recipe By : Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Sauces Pizza Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 2 lb,3 oz. can whole Tomatoes, packed in tomato Puree or juice 2 Fresh basil leaves or 1 Teaspoon dried basil, dried Oregano or dried marjoram 1 Clove of garlic, crushed 2 tb Tomato paste (optional) Freshly ground black pepper Pinch of salt (optional) 1. Pour the contents of the tomato can into a 2 quart, heavy non-aluminum saucepan and coarsely crush the tomatoes with a fork or your hands. 2. Add the herbs, garlic, tomato paste, pepper, and salt. 3. Bring to a bubble over medium heat, stirring to mix the seasonings. 4. As soon as the sauce begins to bubble, turn the heat to low and maintain the sauce at a gentle simmer. 5. Cook, uncovered, stirring from time to time, for a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 1 hour. This sauce will keep for about a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to 4 months. Variation: For onion sauce, saute 1 small, finely chopped sweet onion : in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until the onion is just : translucent. Follow instructions for basic sauce. : For meat flavored sauce, saute the meat of two Italian sweet : sausages (removed from their casings and roughly crumbled) : in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the sausage meat for 1 to : 2 minutes over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Follow : instructions for basic sauce. ~-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -