1. Homemade spaghetti sauce – from REAL tomatoes
By Stephanie Nelson

2. What is spaghetti sauce?
With the ease of using canned products, the traditional Italian method of cooking sauce is rarely used

3. Ingredients of traditional sauce
Fresh, vine ripened tomatoes – 4 lbs
½ onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
½ lb ground beef
Fresh basil, roughly chopped
Salt, pepper, and dried oregano, thyme, and parsley
All fresh ingredients obtained from local vendors at Leucadia farmers’ market

4. Prepping the tomatoes
Make small cuts in an X shape on the bottom of each tomato
Place in boiling water for 1 minute or until skin starts to peel
Plunge into ice water
Peel skin off and cut off stem
Squeeze juice and seeds out of tomato into trash can
Cut into fourths and mash together in large bowl

5. Cooking the sauce Brown beef, onion and garlic in sauce pot
Add salt, pepper, and seasonings during browning
Lower heat, add tomatoes
Add fresh basil and seasonings
Let simmer for 45 min-1 hour until liquid has cooked off and tomatoes have softened

6. Service of pasta sauce
Add to your favorite pasta, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and serve!

7. Advantages of making fresh tomato sauce
Only requires a few extra steps – maybe 15 extra minutes
Simplicity is key – lets natural flavors of each ingredient shine
Much lower in sodium and calories
Have a friend or family member help you – Italian families bond in the kitchen together!
Nothing says “love” like a home-cooked meal!