ParisMaman's Basic Tomato Sauce

By Ellie Rea

For toddlers and adults alike, this tomato sauce is a must! Keep it handy for a quick pasta lunch (tricolor pasta is always appreciated in this house) or a pink sauce, which is great with tuna and other fishes.

2 lbs. fresh ripe tomatoes

2 cloves finely chopped garlic

1 medium-sized onion, diced

1 tsp. thyme

2 bay leaves (+ 2 fresh ones for jar)

1 tsp. salt

about 4 pinches of pepper

1 tbs. or more olive oil

Dice tomatoes and onion, and chop garlic.
Add to pot along with the thyme, the two bay leaves, the salt and the pepper.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 20-30 minutes, until tomatoes are well cooked.

Remove bay leaves, and pass through food mill. The tomato skins will not pass through mill. Add olive oil.
Pour into jars, and add 1 or 2 bay leaves.

Makes about 1 liter of sauce.

This sauce can be used on pasta or rice, to add color and flavor to mayonnaise or a white sauce (pink sauce), or it can be used as a base in soup.