Marinara Sauce Aka "grandma's Sauce"

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 12 links italian sweet sausage or 12 meatballs
• 2 small onions, sliced
• 8 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ounces tomato paste
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 14 ounces water
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup merlot (optional) or 1 cup red wine (optional)
• 1/8 cup sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 brown sausage in separate pan.
• 2 garlic press the garlic (or mince) and brown in the olive oil in a large pot. when brown, add sliced onion and cook until slightly translucent.
• 3 add tomatoe paste to onion mixture and mix thoroughly. add crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper and water and stir well.
• 4 finally, add sausage (and/or meatballs--see my other recipe) and bring to light boil.
• 5 once boiling, decrease heat to simmer and cover . cook on simmer for 3-4 hours stirring occassionly.
• 6 if you can't wait the full 3-4 hours add a dash of sugar and it equals about 1 hour of cooking time.
• 7 add red wine during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• 8 suggestion: serve over pasta with grated parmesan, salad, and bread -- .