I've always wanted to make my own pasta/pizza sauce, but didn't want to endure a massive amount of tomatoes, sauces, blending, mixing, canning, etc that typically comes with homemade sauces. I set out to find a 'good' sauce that could be multifunctional for pasta or pizza, and hopefully have enough left to make another {or more} dish out of the recipe.

The first place I turned to was my Vitamix Whole Foods Recipe Book. I set out to make the Fresh Tomato Sauce, went to the store and got the ingredients that I didn't have {Roma tomatoes & tomato paste} and hurried home to make my first sauce! I made everything as directed but it just didn't come out right! It wasn't a normal sauce color, more like a light orangeish red, and was really bland! My husband and I both talked it over and decided that it probably wasn't the recipe, or anything that I did, but the tomatoes. I had bought a few extra {in case I fell in love with the recipe and had to make more}, they were all about the same ripeness..but not ripe enough! Another problem with living in an area of the country where everything is shipped in! {I did list the recipe below because I will try it again another time, when tomatoes are ripe here!}

Soooo, to my discouragement, I went on another hunt for sauce! I happened upon hemmingshalfdozen.com during a Google search. I read the Pizza Sauce recipe over and it sounded really good, easy and pretty fail proof! I made it and it was GREAT! The sauce is just the right pizza sauce thickness, but easily thinned out with water to use in pasta dishes! The taste is great, it was easy to make, and there was enough to make 2 pizzas and spaghetti with sausage! My son complained a little that his mouth was itchy {his new description for spicy foods} but still ate away!

**Her comments are in ( ), mine are in { }**

hemmingshalfdozen.com Pizza Sauce

1 Onion, chopped
3 Cloves Garlic, chopped
1 28-ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
1 12-ounce Can Tomato Paste
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 to 2 Teaspoons Dried Herbs (I use oregano, basil or thyme) {I used Italian Blend seasoning}
1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
Place into Vita-Mix (or any blender) along with diced tomatoes and tomato paste and blend until smooth.
Pour back into saucepan and add remaining ingredients. If mixture is too thick, add water a little at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
Simmer sauce for a half-hour or so to allow flavors to meld together.
I use this sauce (with or without meat or meatballs) for pasta, too. Leftover sauce freezes well for future use.

Yield: 3 1/2 to 4 cups


Vitamix Fresh Tomato Sauce

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Yield: 2 cups (480 ml)

6 medium Roma tomatoes, quartered or 4 cups chopped
1 small onion, peeled, halved or about 1/3 cup chopped
1 small carrot, halved or about 1/3 cup chopped
2 tablespoons (30 ml) tomato paste
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
 
1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend for 2-3 minutes.
5. Pour into saucepan. Simmer for 35-40 minutes. Serve over pasta.